ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accountancy Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte & Touche, (ii) Ernst & Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department.

Alun Michael: The information on the nature of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms Deloitte and Touche; Ernst and Young (now part of Cap Gemini Ernst and Young); KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers cannot be provided as it is not held centrally.
	The Department is in the process of compiling a central list for the future but this would take some time to complete. The expenditure for core Defra excluding its agencies and NDPBs with each of the firms since 2000–01 is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Supplier Name 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Total 
		
		
			 Deloitte and Touche 0.00 303,941.96 814,339.69 495,575.67 1,613,857.32 
			 Cap Gemini UK 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Ernst and Young 0.00 0.00 0.00 47,000.00 47,000.00 
			 KPMG 140,341.47 26,711.66 0.00 48,675.67 215,728.80 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 255,907.97 308,935.56 30,207.79 55,113.63 650,164.95 
			 Total 396,249.44 639,589.18 844,547.48 646,364.97 2,526,751.07

Central Lobby Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the work she has commissioned from Central Lobby Consultants since 1 June 2001.

Alun Michael: No work has been commissioned from the company named by or on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Common Agricultural Policy

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the fruit growing industry in respect of Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Alun Michael: Defra officials met a delegation from the National Farmers' Union on 31 March.

Over-30 Month Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in bringing the Over Thirty Month Scheme to an end.

Alun Michael: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) review of the Over Thirty Month rule was completed in July 2003 and recommended that it would be acceptable on public health grounds to replace the Over Thirty Month rule with BSE testing of cattle in two stages. Cattle born after August 1996 could be allowed into the food chain, after being tested for BSE, with the possibility of complete replacement of the rule from July 2005. Health Ministers are still considering the FSA advice, but it has already been decided that, for practical reasons, cattle born before August 1996 will be permanently excluded from the food chain. We are now unlikely to see any changes to the OTMS before January 2005, due to the legislative process that must take place once a decision has been reached by Ministers.

Pesticides

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what peer-reviewed and published UK studies she has received that have measured actual exposures to pesticides for people living in agricultural areas, including high and lower levels of exposure over both the short and long-term, and including all oral, dermal and inhalation routes of contamination.

Alun Michael: The data that industry is obliged to   submit to support applications for approvals of pesticides are not usually published. Such studies follow internationally agreed protocols and are subject to the requirements of Good Laboratory Practice. These data are subject to scientific review by the Pesticide Safety Directorate and the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides and/or other European Union regulatory authorities. Evaluation documents are publicly available.
	Data submitted generally refer to operators, who represent the highest risk category for exposure to plant protection products. Several studies on worker exposure have been published in peer review journals.

Pesticides

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what peer-reviewed and published UK studies she has received that have provided direct measurements of pesticide levels in (a) people, (b) wild animals, (c) domestic animals and (d) livestock situated in or near sprayed fields.

Alun Michael: The data that industry is obliged to submit to support applications for approvals of pesticides are not usually published. Such studies follow internationally agreed protocols and are subject to the requirements of Good Laboratory Practice. These data are subject to scientific review by the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) and the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) and/or other European Union regulatory authorities. Evaluation documents are publicly available.
	(a) Regarding measurements in people, studies have focused on spray operators and farm workers as the highest risk category.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a large study where the exposures of operators applying chlorpyrifos to orchards was monitored. ("Technical Development Survey, Exposure to Chlopyrifos in Orchard Spraying, Health and Safety Executive, Directorate of Science and Technology, Health and Safety Laboratory, and Field Operations Division, 1998".)
	The Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel studies, and publishes an annual report on, reported incidents and complaints, including alleged ill-health incidents, involving pesticides investigated by the HSE. The report and details of individual incidents are presented to the ACP to inform the pesticide approvals process.
	The Secretary of State is aware of further work undertaken in the US, which has been published recently.
	(b) Wild animals and (c) domestic animals
	In the UK the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WHS) investigates deaths of terrestrial wildlife and domestic animals, where there is strong evidence that pesticide poisoning may be involved. Annual reports of these investigations are published by the Department and are also available on the Pesticides Safety Directorate website.
	The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, has recently published a report (funded by the RSPCA) entitled "A Review of the Effects of Pesticides on Wild Terrestrial Mammals in Britain" (Harrington & MacDonald 2002, ISBN 0 9529371 8 2).
	The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) operates the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme in which levels of contaminants in livers and eggs of selected species have been monitored. Further information available from the CEH website: www.ceh.ac.uk.
	(d) Livestock in or near sprayed fields
	Monitoring of pesticide residues in meat and meat products is carried out by the independent Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC). The results are published quarterly, via the PRC's website, at: www.prc-uk.org.
	The results are also summarised in an annual report. The most recent report, for 2002, is available free of charge from PSD and is also available on the above website.

Single Farm Payment

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for   Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the introduction of the Single Farm Payment on fruit growers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of the impact of her proposed Single Farm Payment proposals on the future viability of orchards and fruit growers.

Alun Michael: Fruit growers were generally not eligible for the subsidies which are to be replaced by the single payment. Our proposals extend eligibility for the single payment to land which is used to grow soft fruit. Single payments cannot be made anywhere in the European Union in respect of land under permanent crops, which includes orchards.

Voluntary Initiative on Pesticides

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to make an evaluation of the success or outcome of the Voluntary Initiative on Pesticides.

Alun Michael: The Government regularly reviews progress with the Voluntary Initiative on pesticides and reports its broad conclusions in the Budget and Pre-Budget Report. In Budget 2004 the Government confirmed its view that, provided the Initiative is fully implemented, it should be the most effective way of reducing the environmental impacts of pesticide use. However, to cover the potential case that the Initiative might fail to deliver the required environmental benefits within a reasonable timescale, the Government continues to keep the options for a tax or economic instrument under review.

Waste Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made on the introduction of Regulations to deliver the (a) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and (b) End of Life Vehicles directives.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Government have completed a consultation on their policy proposals for the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and recently published on the DTI website an assessment of stakeholders' responses to this. They are currently drafting implementing Regulations and guidance for a final consultation in late spring.
	(b) The End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2635), which came into effect on 3 November 2003, transposed a number of the provisions of the End of   Life Vehicles Directive. Some related legislation was   introduced shortly afterwards in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	Further draft Regulations, to transpose the remaining provisions of the Directive, were the subject of a public consultation, which closed on 30 March 2004. 65 responses were received and these are now being assessed, with a view to finalising the Regulations before presentation to Parliament.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

J. M. W. Turner

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received about the use of the insurance money received by the Tate Gallery following the theft of Turner works on loan to Germany in 1994; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received a proposal from Dr. Selby Whittingham, Editor of the journal J. M. W. Turner, RA, about the use of the insurance money received by Tate following the theft in 1994 of two works from the Turner Bequest in its collections. These works have since been recovered. Dr. Whittingham proposed that the insurance moneys be used primarily to establish a dedicated Turner Gallery. The use of these insurance moneys is a matter for the Trustees of Tate, in discussion with the Charities Commission.

J. M. W. Turner

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received about the establishment of a dedicated Turner gallery; which organisations and individuals have made representations; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from Dr. Selby Whittingham, Editor of the journal J. M. W. Turner R. A. about the establishment of a dedicated Turner Gallery.

J. M. W. Turner

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that the works of Turner currently at the Tate and National galleries are (a) placed under the same body of trustees and (b) housed together.

Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to require the National Gallery or Tate to house the works of Turner together. The housing of the collections of the National Gallery and Tate is a matter for their Trustees under their governing legislation, the Museums and Galleries Act 1992. Under the Act, the two Galleries each appoint one of their Trustees to the Board of the other.

J. M. W. Turner

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will introduce legislation to amend the Museums and Galleries Act 1992 so that it is consistent with the requirement of Turner's will that his finished pictures should be kept together.

Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to introduce legislation to amend the Museums and Galleries Act 1992 in this respect. After Turner's death in 1851, the dispute over the terms of his will went to Court. In 1856, the Court decreed that 100 finished pictures, 182 unfinished pictures and 19,049 drawings and sketches were to be held in trust by the National Gallery, a decision which took precedence over the provisions in Turner's wills and codicils. The National Gallery and Tate Gallery Act 1954 effected the legal separation of the Tate Gallery from the National Gallery and the trusteeship of the Turner Bequest was transferred to the Trustees of the Tate Gallery. The Museums and Galleries Act 1992 established the Tate Gallery as a corporate body and it became Trustee of the Turner Bequest, subject to the conditions of that trust and subject to the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees as established by the 1992 Act.

Recycling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 April 2004, Official Report, columns 243–44W. DCMS procures 100 per cent. recycled paper for in excess of 60 per cent. of paper for printed publications, but it has not been possible to ascertain the percentage of post consumer waste content.

Visual Arts Facilities

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many proposed new visual arts facilities her Department has been advised of since 1 January 1998; in which cities and towns they are located; and how much public funding was given in each case.

Estelle Morris: Arts Council England has awarded over £175 million of lottery capital funds to new and existing visual arts projects since 1 January 1998. Details of individual awards are set out in the tables.
	
		Table 1: Completed visual arts projects
		
			 Organisation name Location Approved amount (£) 
		
		
			 ACAVA London, Kensington 972,785 
			 ACME Housing Association Ltd. London, E3 1,200,857 
			 Artsway Lymington, Hampshire 398,966 
			 Bournemouth and Poole College Services Ltd. Poole, Dorset 1,835,756 
			 Castlefield Gallery/Manchester Artists Studio Manchester 708,235 
			 Baltic, Sage Gateshead and Live Theatre Gateshead 41,385,000 
			 Ikon Gallery Birmingham 4,614,047 
			 Knowsley Arts Centre Merseyside 367,790 
			 One Church Square Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire 1,024,000 
			 The Foundation for Art and Creative Technology Liverpool 4,599,990 
			 Walsall Museum and Art Gallery Walsall 15,750,000 
			 Yorkshire ArtSpace Society Ltd. Sheffield 3,776,310 
			 Lowry Salford 51,000,000 
			 Spike Island Artspace Ltd. Bristol 935,000 
			 Tate Gallery Projects Ltd. London 6,200,000 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Visual arts projects under construction
		
			 Organisation name Location Approved amount (£) 
		
		
			 Combined Art Gallery and Craft Centre for Middlesbrough Middlesbrough 4,500,000 
			 Hampshire Arts Centre Basingstoke and Havant 500,000 
			 Colchester Arts Centre Colchester 5,000,000 
			 Creative Art House Doncaster 1,000,000 
			 Derby Playhouse Derby 2,500,000 
			 Spike Island Bristol 750,000 
			 Eastbourne Regional Cultural Quarter Eastbourne 2,000,000 
			 INIVA/Association of Black Photographers London 5,000,000 
			 Stroud Valley Artspace Gloucestershire 580,000 
			 Wysing Arts Cambridge 780,000 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Visual arts projects not yet to be started
		
			 Organisation name Location Approved amount (£) 
		
		
			 Turner Centre Margate 4,100,000 
			 Future Factory and Angel Row Nottingham 5,000,000 
			 ACME Studios London 2,000,000 
			 Whitechapel Art Gallery London 500,000 
			 Waygood Gallery Newcastle 750,000 
			 Storey Gallery Lancaster 693,600 
			 Newlyn Art Gallery Penzance 1,200,000 
			 Sherborne House Sherborne 288,860 
			 Centre for Creative Arts Wakefield 4,000,000

Visual Arts Facilities

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she has taken to check projections of visitor number attendances at the new visual arts facilities against the actual figures; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: Arts Council England rigorously assesses projections of visitor numbers contained in all applications made to it for capital grants. The ArtsCouncil also monitors all regularly funded organisations, including those receiving capital funding, through an annual, covering attendances in the previous financial year and the projected attendances in the current year.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Pensions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the reasons are for the abatement of pensions under Armed Forces Pension Scheme rules; on what grounds those rules are applied for those in full-time reserve when contributions have been paid; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 23 April 2004
	Successive Governments have maintained the policy that the pensions of public servants who are re-employed in public service should be abated in certain circumstances: these include where an individual is re-employed by the same employer and where an appointment is made under closed competition. The broad terms of this policy apply to all public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Abatement avoids the position where a re-employed member could receive a higher income from public funds, taking account of pay and pension, than a colleague of the same rank, seniority and trade with whom he or she might work. It also provides a safeguard against the potential abuse of re-employment.
	Members of the AFPS make no direct contribution towards the cost of their standard pension benefits. However, as part of its overall review of remuneration, the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) compares the value of benefits provided under the AFPS with those provided by comparator pension schemes in the civilian sector and makes an adjustment to pay to reflect any difference. At present the AFPRB makes a 7 per cent. abatement of comparator pay, and in particular take account of the fact that AFPS benefits accrue faster and are paid earlier than those of civilian comparators. This adjustment takes account of the overall terms of the AFPS which include arrangements for the abatement of pension on re-employment in public service.

Army (Self-harm)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 April, to question reference 165755, what the reasons are for the delay in collecting and analysing information with regard to incidents of self-harm in the army.

Ivor Caplin: It is notoriously difficult to obtain reliable and consistent data about incidents of self-harm, because of problems of definition and identification, uncertainty about intention, patient confidentiality and   the variety and inconsistency of reporting. As I indicated previously, more work is continuing to try to improve the collection of information.

Defence Bills Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid by the Defence Bills Agency to contractors in 2003–04.

Adam Ingram: The value of the bills processed by Defence Bills Agency in 2003–04 is £19,104 million.

Defence Medical Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultants were employed in the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years.

Ivor Caplin: The numbers of consultants employed in the Defence Medical Services in each of the last five years were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of consultants 
		
		
			 2004 202 
			 2003 185 
			 2002 195 
			 2001 201 
			 2000 199

First Gulf War

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will instruct the Medical Assessment Programme to test for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection in servicemen who served in the first Gulf War;
	(2)  whether he has discussed testing for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection with the combined medical services;
	(3)  for what reasons UK servicemen who served in the first Gulf War have not been tested for (a) squalene anti-bodies and (b) mycroplasmal infection;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the work of Dr.   Garth Nicolson of the Institute of Molecular Medicine on the use of a six to12-month course of antibiotics in treating those with mycroplasmal organisms following service in the first Gulf War.

Ivor Caplin: The work of Dr. Nicholson has been monitored as part of the Ministry of Defence's consideration of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses. In line with its normal approach to issues relating to the health of Gulf veterans, the MOD takes medical and scientific advice from a range of internal and external sources. In this instance, there was no requirement to consult formally with the Defence Medical Services although they are aware of the matter. In the light of trials funded by the US Government based on Dr. Nicolson's work, we have concluded that there is no evidence to support a connection between illness among veterans and mycoplasma infections or that aggressive antibiotic treatment would benefit veterans. Assessments undertaken by the US Armed Forces Epidemiological Board similarly support the view that there is no evidence that ill health is linked to the presence of squalene anti-bodies. It would be inappropriate to subject veterans to tests for which there is no clinical indication.

Iraq

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what checks are carried out on private military companies supplying guards to British interests in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employs two private security companies to provide armed protection for its staff and assets in Iraq. These companies were subject to normal checking procedures for contact with private military and security companies in line with FCO guidelines.

Iraq

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what security checks are carried out on (a) Iraqi nationals, (b) Third Country nationals and (c) international employees of private military companies protecting British interests in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs two private security companies in Iraq. One provides armed escorts for its staff when travelling outside secure areas, the other provides static guards at the former embassy and at the British Office in Baghdad. Personnel under these contracts are subject to security vetting prior to deployment, depending on the job they will be doing.

Journalists (Conflict Areas)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what rules journalists working with British forces abroad in conflict areas must abide; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Green Book—"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War"—sets out the arrangements for dealings between the media and the Ministry of Defence in times of emergency, tension, conflict or war. This book is currently being reviewed and updated.
	A copy of the current version of the Green Book can be found on the MOD website at: www.mod.uk/news/green   book/index.htm

Memorial Cemetery (Korea)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make representations to the UN to replace on the Memorial Wall in the UN Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea, and in official documents, the words No Known Grave with the words Buried at Sea at Latitude 36 Degrees, 2 Minutes North, Longitude 129 Degrees, 42 Minutes East, in respect of the Servicemen who were killed on HMS Jamaica on 8 July 1950 and buried at sea; and if he will reply to the hon. Member for Castle Point's constituent Mr. Anthony Legg's letter of 4 March 2004 on this matter.

Ivor Caplin: There are no plans to make representations to the United Nations to change either official documents or the inscription of the central commemorative plaque on the Memorial Wall in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, South Korea. The Memorial is dedicated to all Servicemen who died during the Korean War and are buried at sea. It would be invidious to make changes to cover just those who died on HMS Jamaica.
	Officials replied to the hon. Member's constituent, Mr. Anthony Legg, on 20 April.

Missile Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement concerning the use by the US Administration of RAF Menwith Hill in the US missile defence system.

Geoff Hoon: There are no current plans for any of the facilities at RAF Menwith Hill to be used for United States ballistic missile defence purposes. The position remains that United Kingdom approval would be needed should the US wish to use RAF Menwith Hill for missile defence purposes. No such request has been received.

Missile Defence

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose is of the latest planning application for another radome at RAF Menwith Hill.

Geoff Hoon: The proposed new radome at RAF Menwith Hill will house an additional antenna that will be used in support of the current mission of the base.

Radiation Exposure

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessments have been made of the dangers of exposure to radiation for MOD personnel.

Ivor Caplin: Heads of Establishments and Commanding Officers have a statutory duty under the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 to carry out prior risk assessments, and to keep the assessments up to date, to ensure that exposures of the Ministry of Defence personnel are restricted to as low a level as is reasonably practical. In doing this they seek advice from their Radiation Protection Advisers. Due to numerous and varied situations where this duty applies, it is not possible to list each and every recent occasion where such risk assessments have been undertaken.
	The MOD contributes to the National Registry of Radiation Workers database managed by the National Radiological Protection Board. The data are used to undertake epidemiological studies. In their second analysis of the data, published in July 1999, the National Radiological Protection Board concluded that overall death rates among radiation workers are below those in the general population. This is known as the healthy worker effect. This analysis contained 124,743 workers of which about one-third were MOD radiation workers or former radiation workers. The National Radiological Protection Board is intending to undertake the next analysis in 2005–06.

Radiation Exposure

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions for medical check-ups are provided for (a) current radiation workers and (b) retired and former radiation workers in his Department.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence carries out medical surveillance of radiation workers as required by Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999, Regulation 24. These regulations lay down monitoring and medical surveillance requirements for personnel while occupationally exposed to ionising radiation. The main purpose of medical surveillance is to determine an individual's fitness or continuing fitness for the intended work with ionising radiation.
	There is no mandatory requirement for a monitoring programme for retired personnel and no optional health screening is offered to retired personnel. However, the MOD does provide an independent counselling service for radiation workers, former radiation workers and their families who have concerns about their health consequent of their work with radiation. Individuals may request counselling by telephoning the Counselling Telephone line (02392 768098) and leaving their names and addresses or   by writing to the MOD Counselling Registry at DSTL Radiological Protection Services, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hants, PO12 2DL. Further details are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.mod.uk/dsef/hp/rwc.htm

Suez Medal

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Army Medal Office to complete distribution of the General Service Medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 who have applied for the medal.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 22 April 2004
	As at 16 April, the Army Medal Office has received 27,371 applications and distributed 4,113 medals. Work continues to confirm eligibility and distribute medals as soon as practical.

Territorial Army

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current strength of the Territorial Army is; and what its projected strength is for the next 12 months.

Ivor Caplin: The total strength of the Territorial Army as at 1 March 2004 is 36,900. This includes 2,760 mobilised reservists.
	Forecasts of projected strengths are not available.

US Bases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the US bases for each year from 1997 to date where the Ministry of Defence Police Agency operates.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence Police Officers have continuously staffed RAF Hythe, RAF Welford, RAF Fairford, RAF Menwith Hill, RAF Alconbury, RAF Lakenheath and US Navy (London) during the years 1997 to date.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Office Premises (Improper Use)

Martin Smyth: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the   Electoral Commission what representations the Commission has received on improper use of office premises for party purposes since August 2003.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission has informed me that since August 2003 it has received no representations on the improper use of office premises for party purposes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effect of recent trends in investment in renewable energy upon residents of Manchester, Gorton.

Stephen Timms: Recent trends in renewable energy investment have been encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass.
	While this investment has not translated into capacity within Manchester, Gorton itself, Renewables Northwest, a joint venture between the Regional Development Agency and United Utilities, is actively working with local authorities on the development of urban renewables in the area. This is looking to promote the installation of renewable energy systems in new build and urban regeneration projects in the Greater Manchester area. An example of this is the CIS Tower, Manchester, which has been awarded a sizeable grant from the DTI's Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme, towards the costs of a large PV cladding installation.

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in Manchester, Gorton have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Take-up of maternity leave is not recorded centrally. It is possible to make an estimate of the numbers of women taking maternity leave based on employer returns to Inland Revenue for payment of Statutory Maternity Pay (since 2003 this has covered the first 26 weeks of leave). However, figures for the take-up of SMP are not available on a regional basis.
	In addition, there will be some women who will qualify for maternity leave but not SMP (because they do not meet the earnings criteria) and similarly some who qualify for SMP but not leave (because they are employed earners for the purposes of SMP but not employees in order to qualify for leave).

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects of the EU Social Chapter on the residents of Manchester, Gorton.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The residents of Manchester, Gorton have benefited from the EU Social Chapter by having their employment rights extended to include:
	the right to Parental Leave, which gives parents the right to 13 weeks unpaid leave at the birth or adoption of a child;
	the entitlement of part-time workers to the same pro rata terms and conditions of employment as full-time workers, thereby removing any discrimination and improving the quality of part-time jobs;
	the provision that once a prima facie case has been made in an employment tribunal claim, the burden of proof is placed on the defendant (usually the employer), who will need to demonstrate that sex discrimination has not occurred;
	rights under the Fixed Term Work Directive that provide equal treatment and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts;
	rights under the European Works Council Directive which requires companies with at least 1,000 employees in total and at least 150 workers in each of the two member states, to establish structures for consulting workers on issues that affect them; and
	in addition, the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive to be implemented in the UK by March 2005, establishes a right to new minimum standards for workforce communication and involvement in large firms.

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects on residents of Manchester, Gorton of new rights for night-shift workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The Regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.
	Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than six hours.
	All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working night and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the Regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night, should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.
	All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There are no specific data available for night shift workers in Gorton, Manchester.

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Manchester, Gorton qualify for paid leave entitlements.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All workers resident in Gorton qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least four weeks as set out in the Working Time Regulations. While all women are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave, only those who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to claim statutory maternity pay for that period.
	All employees in Gorton who are eligible will be entitled to take statutory paternity leave with pay and statutory adoption leave with pay.

Manchester, Gorton

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Manchester, Gorton have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. Numbers for Manchester, Gorton are not available. However, it has been estimated that around 100,000 workers resident in Greater Manchester stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998.

State Aid

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2004, Official Report, column 1363W, on state aid, what definition she uses of the term block exemption; and how many applications from each region were turned down by the Department of Trade and Industry and not passed on to the European Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For state aid purposes a block exemption is a Commission Regulation which allows member states to implement state aid schemes complying with stipulated conditions without obtaining advance approval from the Commission. However, member states are obliged to inform the Commission of such schemes within 20 working days of their coming into force. Block Exemption Regulations exist covering aid to SMEs (recently extended to include research and development), aid for training and aid for employment.
	DTI's role is to advise those contemplating introducing state aid schemes and to help them with the notification process. It forwards all notifications to the European Commission via the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Communities, sometimes after amendment in consultation with the aid scheme administrators. The Department does not turn down notifications, although on some occasions an aid scheme administrator may withdraw a notification on advice from DTI that the proposed aid scheme would not comply with the terms of the relevant state aid rules and would not therefore be approved by the Commission.

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and   Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of the EU Social Chapter on the residents of Burnley.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The residents of Burnley have benefited from the EU Social Chapter by having their employment rights extended to include:
	the right to parental leave which gives parents the right to 13 weeks unpaid leave at the birth or adoption of a child;
	the entitlement of part-time workers to the same pro-rata terms and conditions of employment as full time workers, thereby removing any discrimination and improving the quality of part-time jobs;
	the provision that once a prima facie case has been made in an employment tribunal claim, the burden of proof is placed on the defendant (usually the employer), who will need to demonstrate that sex discrimination has not occurred;
	rights under the Fixed Term Work Directive that provide equal treatment and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts;
	rights under the European Works Council Directive which requires companies with at least 1,000 employees in total and at least 150 workers in each of the two member states, to establish structures for consulting workers on issues that affect them and;
	in addition, the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive to be implemented in the UK by March 2005, establishes a right to new minimum standards for workforce communication and involvement in large firms.

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of women in Burnley have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Take-up of maternity leave is not recorded centrally. It is possible to make an estimate of the numbers of women taking maternity leave based on employer returns to Inland Revenue for payment of Statutory Maternity Pay (since 2003 this has covered the first 26 weeks of leave). However, figures for the take-up of SMP are not available on a regional basis.
	In addition, there will be some women who will qualify for maternity leave but not SMP (because they do not meet the earnings criteria) and similarly some who qualify for SMP but not leave (because they are employed earners for the purposes of SMP but not employees in order to qualify for leave).

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the benefits to   residents of Burnley of new rights for night-shift workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.
	Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than six hours.
	All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working nights and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night, should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.
	All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There is no specific data available for night shift workers in Burnley.

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of Burnley qualify for paid leave entitlements.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All workers resident in Burnley qualify for paid annual leave entitlements; at least four weeks as set but in the Working Time Regulations. While all women are entitled to 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave, only those who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to claim statutory maternity pay for that period.
	All employees in Burnley who are eligible will be entitled to take statutory paternity leave with pay and statutory adoption leave with pay.

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and   Industry how many residents of Burnley have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. Numbers for Burnley are not available, however it has been estimated that around 300,000 workers resident in the north west stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998.

Burnley

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many new businesses have started up in Burnley since 1997;
	(2)  how many new businesses have been established in Burnley since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start-ups in England and Wales, including 2,600 in Lancashire county (which contains the constituency of Burnley), in the fourth quarter of 2003. The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start-ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before. There were 10,200 business start-ups in Lancashire county in 2003. Data for counties are not available for before 2003.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Burnley local authority (which covers the same area as the constituency of Burnley) are shown in the table for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
	
		VAT Registrations: 1997–2002
		
			  Burnley 
		
		
			 1997 170 
			 1998 180 
			 1999 180 
			 2000 205 
			 2001 205 
			 2002 205 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service.
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.

Cammell Laird

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she intends to take against directors of Cammell Laird at the point when the company was moved into administration.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 22 April 2004
	There are a number of Cammell Laird companies which have gone into insolvency proceedings during 2001 and 2003. These are:
	
		
			  Insolvency proceedings Date 
		
		
			 Cammell Laird (Merseyside) Ltd. Administrative receivership 11 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird (North East) Ltd. Administrative receivership 11 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird (North East) Ltd. Voluntary liquidation 16 July 2003 
			 Cammell Laird (Shiprepairers) Ltd. Voluntary liquidation 3 February 2003 
			 Cammell Laird (Teesside) Ltd. Administrative receivership 12 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird (Tyneside) Ltd. Administrative receivership 12 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird (Wearside) Ltd. Administrative receivership 20 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird Holdings plc Administration 19 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird plc Administrative receivership 11 April 2001 
			 Cammell Laird Properties Ltd. Voluntary liquidation 21 May 2001 
			 Cammell Laird Technical Services Ltd. Administrative receivership 12 April 2001 
		
	
	The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 imposes a statutory time limit of two years from the date of the first insolvency proceedings, for making an application for a disqualification order. Therefore the companies which failed in 2001 are outside of this time limit.
	The insolvency practitioners appointed as liquidators of the two companies which failed in 2003 have reported to the Secretary of State as they are required to do. On the basis of the information currently provided, no disqualification proceedings are being considered. Should additional information become available this decision will be reviewed to determine whether such proceedings are in the public interest.

Car Advertisements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to prevent car advertisements from referring to maximum speed levels achievable where these are in excess of the national speed limit.

Stephen Timms: The rules under Section 48 of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code already provide such safeguards for motoring advertising.
	Section 48.3 states:
	"Marketers should not portray speed in a way that might encourage motorists to drive irresponsibly or to break the law and should not condone irresponsible driving."
	Section 48.2 states:
	"Marketers should not make speed or acceleration claims the predominant message of their marketing communications. However it is legitimate to give general information about a vehicle's performance such as acceleration and mid-range statistics, braking power, road-holding and top speed."

Debt

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish research carried out or commissioned by her Department which compares the level of (a) secured and (b) unsecured debt in the UK with other countries.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI has not carried out or commissioned research which compares the level of secured and unsecured debt in the UK with other countries.
	Comparisons of amounts spent on unsecured debt by the bottom two income deciles in UK, France, Germany and the USA are included in research commissioned by the DTI to look at the way interest rate controls have worked in other countries. This work was announced in the Consumer Credit White Paper (December 2003), and will be published later this spring.
	The DTI commissioned and published research into levels of household debt in the UK from the Personal Finance Research Centre (Kempson, Elaine, "Over- indebtedness in Britain", September 2002, available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topicsl/pdfl/moricontents.pdf). In the Consumer Credit White Paper, we committed to monitoring the extent and profile of over-indebtedness in the UK, and will be reporting on our approach in the forthcoming Strategy on Over-indebtedness.
	DTI draws on research carried out by others in its assessment of the level of debt in the UK compared with other countries. For example:
	The Treasury published a comparison of outstanding residential mortgage debt across EU countries in the EMU study 'Housing, consumption and EMU' with the five tests assessment (available at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/the   euro/assessment/studies/euro   assess03   studdorset.cfm).
	Sir Andrew Large, Deputy Governor of the BoE, recently gave a speech entitled 'Major puzzles in today's economy: the build-up in household debt' in which he placed the UK experience in the international context and compared household debt levels in the UK with other major industrial countries (March 2004, available at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/speeches/speech217.pdf).

Debt

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya's debts to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, broken down by sector, are; if she will list the top five contracts, by value, on which these debts are based; and if she will make a statement on the Government's intention to recover this debt.

Mike O'Brien: Libya made a payment of £20 million to ECGD on 29 December 2003 in negotiated settlement of its outstanding debt obligations towards ECGD-insured debt.
	To avoid prejudicing ongoing negotiations with other similar debtors, it is not ECGD's policy to reveal details of the amounts outstanding in respect of which this settlement was made. However, the settlement reached represented a good outcome to negotiations between HMG and the Libyan Government.
	The debt related to business dating back to the early/mid-1980s. The majority of the business was covered under short-term guarantees, with the balance mainly construction projects and services. We do not have a comprehensive breakdown of the debt on the basis requested.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the timetable for the Export Credits Guarantee Department becoming a capitalised trading fund;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the cost of the Export Credits Guarantee Department becoming a capitalised trading fund, broken down by (a) the source of the funding and (b) how the money is to be allocated; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Ministers are considering the arrangements for ECGD's Trading Fund, and an announcement will be made in due course.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether an assessment of the effects of fully privatising the Export Credits Guarantee Department was made before the decision that it should become a trading fund was taken.

Mike O'Brien: Privatisation of ECGD was considered in the Mission and Status Review of ECGD in 1999–2000 (a copy is available on ECGD's website www.ecgd.gov.uk). The Review concluded that privatisation should not be pursued, and that ECGD's risk management systems should be strengthened by the establishment of a Trading Fund.

Gasified Coal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage the gasification of coal.

Stephen Timms: We are supporting six R&D projects under the Cleaner Coal Technology Programme. We are also investigating the feasibility of Underground Coal Gasification and plan to produce a report on this in about a month's time.

Gasified Coal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of power was derived from gasified coal in 2003.

Stephen Timms: Currently in the UK there is no power produced through coal gasification.

Low Pay Commission

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the terms of reference for the Low Pay Commission's Report of 2004; why the monitoring of enforcement and compliance with regard to the National Minimum Wage was not included as in previous years; and whether such matters will be included in the Low Pay Commission remit in the future.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Low Pay Commission monitored and evaluated issues connected with minimum wage—including enforcement—in their last full report in 2003.
	The remit for the Commission's 2004 Report was specifically drawn to cover two issues raised in the 2003 Report: to consider whether any fine-tuning was needed to the proposed October 2004 increases; and to consider the possible advantages and disadvantages of a minimum wage rate for 16–17 year olds.
	Further remits for the Low Pay Commission will be announced to Parliament in the usual way.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inspections have been undertaken where no complaint has been made about an employer to ensure that they are complying with the National Minimum Wage provisions in each year since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage; and what level of underpayment was identified as a result of each of these inspections.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of cases completed and arrears identified since the introduction of the minimum wage, where a complaint had not been received, are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of cases Arrears identified (£) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 2,532 158,839 
			 2000–01 4,742 1,025,333 
			 2001–02 3,655 1,206,898 
			 2002–03 4,284 1,043,706 
			 2003–04 3,655 1,205,674

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets have been set for the national minimum wage compliance teams with regard to the investigation of complaints; and whether these have been met for each year since the introduction of the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Our Service Level Agreement with the Inland Revenue requires them to investigate every complaint made to the National Minimum Wage helpline each year and they do so.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason there has been no systematic evaluation of the use and efficacy of the formal powers available to national minimum wage compliance officers in response to the recommendations of the fourth report of the Low Pay Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The assumption underlying this question is incorrect. The Government are currently reviewing the enforcement powers available to them and will cover this point in future evidence to the Low Pay Commission.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress being made by, and conclusions drawn from, the local enforcement pilot projects for the national minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following recommendations made in the Low Pay Commission's second report seven local enforcement projects were launched between March and September 2001. Three of these met with limited success and it was decided with our partners that they should close.
	Four of the projects are still running; we will be evaluating their effectiveness over the coming months and will cover this issue in future evidence to the Low Pay Commission.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down those employees affected by cases of underpayment of the national minimum wage brought to the attention of the Inland Revenue by (a) sex, (b) age group, (c) ethnicity and (d) region for each year since the introduction of the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table provides details of the number of workers that were found to be paid below the minimum wage following an Inland Revenue investigation.
	
		
			  Number of workers 
		
		
			 2001–02 10,378 
			 2002–03 7,373 
			 2003–04 9,431 
		
	
	No information on the number of workers in this category was held prior to 2001–02. The Inland Revenue only holds information relating to workers being underpaid by sex, age group and region in connection with cases that originated with a workers' complaint. This information is set out in the joint DTI/Revenue Annual Reports on the minimum wage; copies of recent reports can be found on www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw. No information is held in relation to ethnicity of the workers concerned.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down by industry the employers found to be not complying with the national minimum wage provisions by industry for each year since the introduction of the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table provides details of the number of employers investigated by the Inland Revenue where non-compliance with the minimum wage was found.
	
		
			  Number of employers 
		
		
			 1999–2000 1,280 
			 2000–01 2,119 
			 2001–02 1,937 
			 2002–03 1,996 
			 2003–04 2,211 
		
	
	Further information on the breakdown by industry in connection with cases that originated with a worker's complaint is set out in the joint DTI/Revenue Annual Reports.

National Minimum Wage

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the prevalence of re-offending in relation to employer non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As part of the post evaluation assurance programme, officers re-visit a number of employers to   ensure continued compliance with the national minimum wage.
	As part of the first evaluation undertaken in August 2002, 87 cases were selected for revisiting. Of these 71 employers were found to be complying (82 per cent.). As part of a second evaluation undertaken in March 2003, 95 per cent. Where appropriate the Revenue take formal enforcement action at an early stage where an employer has re-offended.
	DTI and Inland Revenue are presently working on a strategy to use the prosecution powers, contained in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to tackle, among others, any employers that are found to repeatedly re-offend.

Newspaper Distribution

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the newspaper distribution network.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The arrangements for the distribution of newspapers are a commercial matter for the industry, operating within the relevant legal and regulatory framework.

Night Shift Workers

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the benefits to residents of Birkenhead of new rights for night-shift workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.
	Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than 6 hours.
	All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working nights and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.
	All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There is no specific data available for night-shift workers in Birkenhead.

Post Office

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the outcome and lessons learned review of the Post Office Urban Reinvention programme following its conclusion will include an examination of the extension of the flexibility currently covering the rural network to urban areas.

Stephen Timms: Government policy for the post office network is guided by the recommendations of thePerformance and Innovation Unit report on "Modernising the Post Office Network", published in June 2000. The report identified the different nature of the challenges facing the network in urban and rural areas, and there does not appear to be a case at present for adopting the approach being applied in rural areas to the urban network.
	Rationalisation is necessary in urban areas where there are too many post offices for all of them to survive on the current levels of business available.

Recognition Ballots

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for   Trade and Industry how many allegations of intimidation by (a) trade unions and (b) employers during recognition ballots were made in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are aware of concerns on the part of unions and employers of intimidation during recognition ballots, and sought further evidence in order to gain a better idea of the scale of the problem. Over a dozen allegations have been directly brought to my attention in the last 12 months as a result of this process, the majority of which have alleged intimidation by employers.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many planning applications for wind farms in coastal waters of the United Kingdom have been made in (a) the first round and (b) the second round; and if she will list the (i) persons and (ii) organisations who have been consulted on each application.

Stephen Timms: The Department has received 12 planning applications in relation to English and Welsh waters under the first round of offshore wind farms but none in relation to the second round. Of these six consents have been granted under the Electricity Act for the Scroby Sands, North Hoyle, Rhyl Flats, Barrow, Kentish Flats and Burbo Bank offshore wind farms and a further four have been granted Orders under the Transport and Works Act for the Lynn, Inner Dowsing, Cromer and Gunfleet Sands offshore wind farms. Consent applications for the Teesside and Shell Flats offshore wind farms are currently under consideration.
	Depending whether or not the development was in English or Welsh waters either English Nature, the Countryside Agency and English Heritage or the National Assembly for Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments were consulted. Additional consultees included the Civil Aviation Authority, Crown Estate, Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive, Ministry of Defence, Radiocommunications Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Chamber of Shipping (but not in the case of Scroby Sands and North Hoyle), Royal Yachting Association (but not in the case of Scroby Sands or North Hoyle), Trinity House Lighthouse Services, National Federation of Fisherman's Organisations, the relevant local authority and sea fisheries committee and the local port or harbour authority where appropriate. Both the Chamber of Shipping and the Royal Yachting Association were added to the consultee list following representations to the Department for Transport and the DTI. In addition to those listed any organisation including members of the public can comment on planning applications as each application is subject to a formal public consultation period and must be advertised in local newspapers. All comments received will be taken into account before any decision is made on a specific proposal.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the risk of obstruction to the Port of London from the London Array wind farm; and what representations shehas received on the issue from the maritime industry.

Stephen Timms: The developer of the London Array wind farm in seeking consent for the project must make a thorough assessment of the potential impact of the proposed installation on navigation and ports. The developer must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State in the case of an Order under the Transport and Works Act or the Secretary of State for Transport in the case of a Coast Protection Act 1949 consent that their development, in combination with others in the vicinity, does not present a danger or significant obstruction to navigation. In reaching that decision either Secretary of State will take advice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Port of London Authority. Any other organisation or person who has an interest in the matter may make representations to the relevant Minister which will be taken into account in the decision-making process.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the   extent of interference with maritime navigational instruments from wind farms placed in UK territorial waters.

Stephen Timms: It is important that wind farms do not compromise safety by interfering with ship or search and rescue communications systems. The Government have given an assurance in the House of Lords that it will carry out a study on this subject.
	The study will draw on international experience, for instance in Denmark, and we will learn as much as possible from our own installations. The offshore wind farm at North Hoyle can be used as a test facility to provide an input into the study. The study is a priority and work will begin as soon as possible.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will require that the costs of any navigational aids required to prevent collision with windmills positioned in UK territorial waters are met by the operators of wind farms.

Stephen Timms: The costs of providing navigational aids to prevent vessels colliding with offshore installations is to be met by the developers. The General Lighthouse Authorities set the standard for such marking and will monitor its provisions. Developers may also expect to meet the reasonable costs of altering existing aids to navigation if required as a result of their installations.

Wind Farms

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations she has (a) undertaken and (b) planned with maritime groups concerned about the impact of offshore wind farms on maritime navigation.

Stephen Timms: I had a useful and productive meeting with representatives of the shipping, port and marine aggregates industries on 16 March this year about the second round of offshore wind farms planned for the Greater Wash, Thames Estuary and North West.
	These industries have had an opportunity to make their views known on the Department's plans for offshore wind farming. In November 2002, the Department issued a consultation paper, Future Offshore: A Strategic framework for the offshore wind industry. As a result, the Department decided that the future allocation of leases for sites for offshore wind farms would take place in a structured series of bidding rounds, following a strategic environmental assessment of the defined areas of the sea selected for potential development.
	In May 2003 the Department consulted on an environmental report which assessed the impact of wind farm development in three strategic areas—the Greater Wash, outer Thames Estuary and the North West (from North Wales to the Solway Firth)—on a range of matters including maritime navigation. Following this consultation the Department asked The Crown Estate to arrange a bidding round for site leases in these three strategic areas, with the exception of a coastal strip of 8 to 13 kms wide, which was excluded because of the particular sensitivity to development of shallow coastal waters. The Crown Estate announced before Christmas last year that it had offered site leases for 15 wind farms.
	The developers of these proposed wind farms must obtain statutory planning consents from Government before they can be built. The Department has already organised one workshop and is planning a series of further meetings to bring together the developers with the main stakeholders, including representatives of the maritime community, who should be consulted in preparing an environmental impact assessment of the project. When a formal planning application for the project is received the Department will consult a range of organisations including those representing shipping and port interests.

TREASURY

Annuities

Edward Leigh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has recently received about the reform of annuities.

Ruth Kelly: Out of the 209 responses only 14 directly addressed the reform of annuities. And about half of these wanted the annuity rules finessed rather than abolished.

Birth Statistics

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total number of live births was in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1992.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to David Willetts, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your request for the number of live births in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland in each year since 1992. (168159)
	The latest year for which figures are available for all four countries is 2002. The information requested is shown in the attached table for the years 1992–2002.
	  Provisional 2003 figures are available for Scotland and Northern Ireland. These are also shown in the table. The 2003 figures for England and Wales will be published on 13 May 2004.
	The figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the appropriate national office. They have been extracted from publications produced by the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	
		Number of live births in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland 1992–2003
		
			  Scotland 1 England 2,3 Wales3,4 Northern Ireland 5 
		
		
			 1992 65,789 651,784 37,523 25,354 
			 1993 63,337 636,473 36,578 24,722 
			 1994 61,656 628,956 35,366 24,098 
			 1995 60,051 613,257 34,477 23,693 
			 1996 59,296 614,184 34,894 24,382 
			 1997 59,440 608,202 34,520 24,087 
			 1998 57,319 602,111 33,438 23,668 
			 1999 55,147 589,468 32,111 22,957 
			 2000 53,076 572,826 31,304 21,512 
			 2001 52,527 563,744 30,616 21,962 
			 2002 51,270 565,709 30,205 21,385 
			 2003(6) 52,408 n/a n/a 21,648 
		
	
	(1) Numbers of live births occurring in Scotland, registered in the year stated.
	(2) Numbers of live births occurring anywhere in England and Wales to mothers usually resident in England, in the year stated. A small number of births from the previous year, which were late in being registered are also included.
	(3) There are around 200–400 births each year that occur in England and Wales that are to non- residents of England and Wales. These births are excluded from these figures.
	(4) Numbers of live births occurring anywhere in England and Wales to mothers usually resident in Wales, in the year stated. A small number of births from the previous year which were late in being registered are also included.
	(5) Numbers of live births occurring in N Ireland to resident mothers, registered in the year stated.
	(6) Provisional.
	Sources:
	Office for National Statistics
	General Register Office for Scotland
	Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Child Carers

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether nannies count as registered child carers for the purposes of the Budget proposal whereby companies' contributions of up to £50 per week to the cost of a registered child carer are exempt from taxation as a benefit in kind.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 381W, about nannies employed by parents with disabled children. That answer applies to nannies generally.

Children (Statistics)

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total number of children in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland aged under five years was in each year since 1992; and what forecasts he has made for future years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to David Willetts, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the total number of children in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland aged under five years for each year since 1992, and what forecasts have been made for the future. (168163)
	Attached is a table showing mid-year population estimates for 1992–2002 and mid-year population projections for 2003–2012 of children aged 0–4 inclusive for each constituent country of the UK.
	
		Estimated and projected population of children aged under 5 years 1992–2002 (estimated), 2003–2012 (projected), constituent countries of the UK1 -- Thousand
		
			 Year2,3 England 4 Wales(10) Scotland Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1992 3,244.9 191.1 325.1 130.8 
			 1993 3,227.8 188.6 323.0 128.8 
			 1994 3,218.1 187.4 322.2 126.8 
			 1995 3,185.0 183.8 318.3 124.6 
			 1996 3,126.7 179.5 310.1 122.9 
			 1997 3,086.2 177.1 302.7 121.6 
			 1998 3,050.2 174.7 296.4 120.4 
			 1999 3,018.4 172.1 290.3 119.2 
			 2000 2,978.1 169.6 283.2 117.3 
			 2001 2,920.6 167.2 276.3 114.7 
			 2002 2,864.0 162.8 268.5 112.5 
			 2003 2,843.2 159.9 263.4 110.3 
			 2004 2,834.3 158.0 258.4 108.4 
			 2005 2,840.2 157.1 255.2 107.3 
			 2006 2,860.6 156.6 252.3 106.8 
			 2007 2,880.2 157.6 249.9 106.4 
			 2008 2,883.4 158.2 246.6 106.0 
			 2009 2,885.5 158.8 244.1 105.9 
			 2010 2,890.4 159.3 242.4 105.9 
			 2011 2,898.2 159.9 241.3 106.1 
			 2012 2,908.4 160.4 240.9 106.3 
		
	
	(7) Individual country estimates shown in the table cannot be added to give a UK total, since rounding errors would occur.
	(8) Mid-year population estimates from 1992–2002.
	(9) 2002-based national population projections from 2003–12.
	(10) Interim revised population estimates from 1992–2000 for England and Wales only.
	Sources:
	Office for National Statistics.
	General Register Office for Scotland.
	Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
	Government Actuary's Department.

Civil Servants

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the towns and cities which have been assessed by Sir Michael Lyons for possible relocation of civil servants from London which have been short-listed; how many locations will be selected; when he will   make an announcement; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: In taking forward the Government's relocation programme, choice of locations will be for each department to determine based on a sound business case which aims to secure greater efficiency, improved public service delivery and better value for money for the taxpayer.
	The independent King Sturge research commissioned by Sir Michael Lyons in his review provides an assessment of the attributes and qualities of different locations outside London and the South East. The assessment, details of which may be found in Chapter 8 of his report, is an illustrative guide for departments and public bodies relocating functions or considering dispersal out of the capital and by no means intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive.
	In submitting relocation proposals to Sir Michael Lyons' Review, some departments have indicated an initial preference for certain locations. There are show in Chart 6.1 of Sir Michael's report.
	The Government will come forward with detailed proposals for monitoring and implementing dispersal plans as part of the 2004 Spending Review.

Council Tax

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for (a) 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available the number of householders paying more in council tax than income tax.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 26 April 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the number of householders paying more in council tax than income tax in 1997 and currently. I am replying in his absence. (166525)
	Estimates have been produced from the Office for National Statistics' analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income" published on the National Statistics website on October 21st 2003 at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits.
	Based on information provided by respondents to the survey the number of households in Great Britain paying more in net council tax than in income tax was approximately 4.8 million in 1997/98 and 5.5 million in 2001/02. More recent information is not yet available. Net council tax is defined as gross council tax less reported council tax benefits and discounts. Please note that these figures refer to the total tax paid by households (which may contain more than one person paying income tax) rather than by householders.
	The analysis includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. This is a sample survey covering about 7,500 households in the UK and, as with any statistical sample survey, estimates are subject to sampling error.

Sea Bass

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that sea bass (a) served at functions at which he is the host and (b) used in Treasury catering outlets is sourced from hand-line fishermen rather than pair trawlers.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury's catering contractor sources foodstuffs with the aim of obtaining best value for the customer.

Economic Inactivity

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) men aged 50 to 64 years and (b) women aged 50 to 59 years were not in employment in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment among men and women aged over 50. (168155)
	The attached table gives estimates of the number of men aged 50 to 64 years and women aged 50 to 59 years not in employment for three month periods ending February each year from 1998 to 2004, the most recent periods for which this information is available.
	Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Number of people who are not in employment in the United Kingdom (not seasonally adjusted)—Men aged 50–64 and women aged 50–59, three month periods ending February, 1998–2004 -- Thousand
		
			  Not in employment 1 Unemployed Economically inactive 
		
		
			 Men aged 50–64 and Women aged 50–59 
			 1998 2,855 273 2,582 
			 1999 2,833 269 2,564 
			 2000 2,896 261 2,635 
			 2001 2,842 226 2,615 
			 2002 2,849 209 2,640 
			 2003 2,777 227 2,550 
			 2004 2,715 198 2,517 
			  
			 Men aged 50–64 
			 1998 1,532 200 1,332 
			 1999 1,520 191 1,329 
			 2000 1,578 190 1,388 
			 2001 1,526 166 1,360 
			 2002 1,533 145 1,389 
			 2003 1,491 163 1,327 
			 2004 1,448 135 1,313 
			 
			 Women aged 50–59 
			 1998 1,323 73 1,251 
			 1999 1,313 78 1,235 
			 2000 1,318 70 1,247 
			 2001 1,316 61 1,255 
			 2002 1,316 65 1,251 
			 2003 1,286 64 1,222 
			 2004 1,268 63 1,204 
		
	
	(11) Not in employment includes unemployed and economically inactive
	Source:
	ONS-Labour Force Survey

Employment Statistics

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the figures for (a) adult and (b) youth long-term unemployment in Liverpool, Walton were in each year between 1997 and 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Kilfoyle, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (166973)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Liverpool, Walton Parliamentary Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The attached table gives the annual average number of people claiming ISA for over 12 months, and the annual average number of these claimants aged 18 to 24 years, in the Liverpool, Walton constituency, for each year since 1997. The data are not seasonally adjusted.
	
		Annual average numbers of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for at least 12 months(12)—Liverpool, Walton parliamentary constituency, 1997–2003
		
			  All claimants Claimants aged 18–24 
		
		
			 1997 2,229 472 
			 1998 1,814 323 
			 1999 1,398 114 
			 2000 1,060 32 
			 2001 866 21 
			 2002 774 38 
			 2003 660 38 
		
	
	(12) Computerised claims only.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Employment Statistics

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Liverpool, Walton in each year from 1997 to 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Kilfoyle, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Liverpool, Walton parliamentary constituency.
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records the numbers of unfilled vacancies in the Liverpool travel-to-work area on average for the years 1997 to 2000 and for the latest available 12-month period, to April 2001, were as follows. These figures represent only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	
		Average number of unfilled vacancies recorded at Jobcentres in Liverpool travel-to-work area 1997–2000, and 12 month period ending April 2001
		
			  Number of vacancies 
		
		
			 1997 4,330 
			 1998 5,472 
			 1999 5,795 
			 2000 5,926 
			 May 2000 to April 2001 3,328 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus administrative records.
	Figures are not available for the Liverpool, Walton constituency alone because of the practice of notifying some vacancies centrally, with one Jobcentre taking vacancies for others in the same district.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics for May 2001 onwards were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies for later years are therefore unavailable. Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Employment Statistics

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Liverpool, Walton were registered unemployed in each year between 1997 and 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Kilfoyle, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (166966)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Liverpool, Walton Parliamentary Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The table below gives the annual average number of JSA claimants for the Liverpool, Walton constituency for each year since 1997 to 2003.
	
		Number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the Liverpool, Walton parliamentary constituency, 1997–2003
		
			  Number of claimants 
		
		
			 1997 5,260 
			 1998 4,745 
			 1999 4,242 
			 2000 3,858 
			 2001 3,538 
			 2002 3,328 
			 2003 3,077

Employment Statistics

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Heywood and Middleton in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Heywood and Middleton. (168515)
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records the number of unfilled vacancies notified to Jobcentres in Heywood and Middleton was 378 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.
	Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Employment Statistics

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in each year since 1997 in Heywood and Middleton.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (168519)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Heywood and Middleton Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The table below gives the annual average number of ISA claimants for the Heywood and Middleton constituency for each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Number of claimants 
		
		
			 1997 2,772 
			 1998 2,393 
			 1999 2,077 
			 2000 1,804 
			 2001 1,680 
			 2002 1,640 
			 2003 1,462 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Employment Statistics

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Heywood and Middleton from 1997 to 31 December 2003;
	(2)  how many new jobs have been created in Heywood and Middleton since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about full-time jobs and jobs created in Heywood and Middleton. (168520, 168521)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes, in numbers of jobs, from year to year.
	The following table shows the information requested, relating to all jobs and full-time jobs, in Heywood and Middleton, for 1997 and the latest year available, 2002. No information is available about whether the jobs were permanent.
	
		Number of full-time employees and total number of employees(13) in Heywood and Middleton parliamentary constituency: 1997 and 2002
		
			  Full-Time Total 
		
		
			 Number of employees   
			 1997 22,600 31,300 
			 2002 23,800 32,300 
			
			 Change from 1997 to 2002   
			 Absolute 1,200 1,000 
			 Percentage 5.4% 3.1% 
		
	
	(13) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs.
	Source:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).

Employment Statistics

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Heywood and Middleton on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about tourism-related jobs in Heywood and Middleton. (168522)
	The latest available data, from the 2002 Annual Business Inquiry, shows that the total number of jobs in tourism related industries in Heywood and Middleton was 2,700. This total is obtained by combining figures for those working in the following industries, as identified by Standard Industrial Classification 2003:
	hotels
	restaurants
	bars
	activities of travel agencies
	library, archives, museums etc.
	sporting activities
	other recreational activities.

Employment Statistics

James Purnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Stalybridge and Hyde in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. James Purnell, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Stalybridge and Hyde. (168767)
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records the number of unfilled vacancies notified to Jobcentres in Stalybridge and Hyde was 316 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.
	Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Full-time Jobs (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in Manchester, Gorton from 1997 to 31 December 2003;
	(2)  how many new jobs have been created in Manchester, Gorton since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about full-time jobs and jobs created in Manchester, Gorton.
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in numbers of jobs, from year to year.
	The following table shows the annual average numbers of jobs, and full-time jobs, in Manchester, Gorton for 1997 and 2002, the latest year for which information is available. No information is available about whether these jobs were permanent.
	
		Annual average number of full-time employees and total number of employees(14) in Manchester, Gorton Parliamentary Constituency 1997 and 2002
		
			  Full-time Total 
		
		
			 Number of employees   
			 1997 9,800 15,100 
			 2002 11,300 17,800 
			
			 Change from 1997 to 2002   
			 Absolute 1,500 2,600 
			 Percentage 14.7 17.5 
		
	
	(14) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs.
	Source:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled.
	2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).

Gershon Report

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Gershon Report will be published.

Paul Boateng: All Departments continue to work closely with Sir Peter Gershon to prepare detailed efficiency proposals for consideration in the 2004 Spending Review. Departments' agreed efficiency programmes will be published in parallel with the Spending Review settlement.

Gilts

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the value of gilts maturing in each year from now on.

Ruth Kelly: The UK Debt Management Office publishes the gilt redemptions profile each quarter in its Quarterly Review. The next issue, for first quarter of 2004, will be available in the week beginning 26 April 2004.

Job Vacancies

Peter Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Burnley in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Burnley. (167904)
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records, the number of unfilled vacancies in the Burnley travel-to-work area was 817 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.
	Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Job Vacancies

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in Manchester, Gorton in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Manchester Gorton.
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records the number of unfilled vacancies in the Manchester travel-to-work area was 9,767 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	Figures are not available for Manchester Gorton alone because the vacancies are allocated to local Jobcentres, not according to constituency boundaries, and because of the practice of notifying some vacancies centrally with one Jobcentre taking vacancies for others in the same district.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.
	Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Life Expectancy

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the life expectancy at age 65 of (a) a man and (b) a woman (i) 30 years ago, (ii) now and (iii) in 30 years' time.

Ruth Kelly: The following table gives actual and projected expectations of life at age 65 for men and women in the United Kingdom for the calendar years 1974, 2002, 2004 and 2034. 2002 is the latest year for which the data required to calculate actual expectations of life are available. Figures for 2004 and 2034 are calculated using projected mortality rates taken from the latest, 2002-based, population projections for the United Kingdom.
	The expectation of life figures shown are based on the mortality rates experienced (or projected) by age and gender in the years stated and are the number of years people would be expected to live from age 65 if they experienced those mortality rates throughout their remaining lifetimes.
	
		Expectation of life for men and women at age 65 in the year shown United Kingdom
		
			 Based on data for year Men Women 
		
		
			 1974 (Actual) 12.3 16.2 
			 2002 (Actual) 16.1 19.1 
			 2004 (Projected) 16.6 19.4 
			 2034 (Projected) 20.3 23.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department.

London Marathon (Sponsorship)

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether charitable and voluntary organisations in receipt of sponsorship money raised by participants in   the London Marathon on 18 April 2004 will be required to pay value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and   Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) on 19 March 2004, Official Report, column 25W.
	Donations to a charity, for which nothing is received in return, are VAT-free, even if a charity asks individuals to 'pledge' or 'commit' to raise a certain amount of sponsorship.
	Some charities insist that their runners in the London Marathon pay a registration fee or a minimum amount of sponsorship, before they take part in the race. These charities are, in effect, selling places in the race, so VAT is due, but only on any registration fee or the minimum amount runners have to pay. Any money raised above the minimum amount or registration fee will be free from VAT.
	So, as they have always been able to do, charities can choose whether to organise their activities in this manner, enabling them to recover some of the VAT on the costs associated with the race, or in such a way that no VAT is due on the amount paid to them by runners.

National Minimum Wage

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workers in Heywood and Middleton have benefited from the national minimum wage.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of workers in Heywood and Middleton who have benefited from the national minimum wage (NMW).
	Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
	However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than NMW rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837&Pos=l&ColRank=1&Rank =272

Offshore Jobs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department had with the Department of Trade and Industry concerning off-shoring of UK jobs.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 21 April 2004
	Discussions have been held at Cabinet level and between DTI and Treasury officials. DTI will publish a White Paper on Trade and Investment in summer 2004, which will cover the issue of offshoring. The Treasury, along with others, has provided input into the current consultation.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1682W.
	It is not possible to provide a total cost for staff employed as press officers on a consistent basis since 1990–91.
	The number of press officers has remained broadly constant since 1992 at eight posts increasing to nine posts from 1 April 2003.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Law Society and other solicitors' representative organisations on the introduction of stamp duty land tax with specific reference to the time taken to fill in individual conveyancing forms needed to meet the duties of stamp duty land tax.

Ruth Kelly: The Inland Revenue have been in discussions with the law societies about all aspects of stamp duty land tax since 2002 and have held meetings to discuss the processes. The time taken to complete the forms has been discussed.

Tax Coding

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) correct and (b) incorrect notices of coding for those on PAYE were issued for the 2004–05 tax year in (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March.

Dawn Primarolo: The only known error relating to the 2004–05 notices of coding was in respect of car and fuel benefits. The total numbers of coding notices issued were in the region of: (i) 4.3 million (ii) 7.9 million (iii) 1.3 million; and incorrect: (i) 468 thousand (ii) none (iii) none.

Tourism-related Jobs (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Manchester, Gorton on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your   Parliamentary Question about tourism-related jobs in Manchester, Gorton.
	The latest available data, from the 2002 Annual Business Inquiry, shows that the average number of jobs in tourism-related industries in Manchester, Gorton was 2,200 during that year.
	This total is obtained by combining figures for those working in the following industries, as identified by Standard Industrial Classification 2003:
	hotels
	restaurants
	bars
	activities of travel agencies
	library, archives, museums etc
	sporting activities
	other recreational activities.

Unclaimed Assets (Charitable Use)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of unclaimed assets he will be able to apply to charitable purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 23 April 2004
	There is currently no official estimate of the number of unclaimed assets or their total value.

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) percentage and (b) actual change in unemployment was since 1997 in each constituency listed in descending order according to percentage drop and grouped by region.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (166678)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment by Parliamentary Constituency.
	However, ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	A table showing the change in the number of JSA claimants in each Parliamentary Constituency from 1997 to 2003 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Unemployment

Peter Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the level of unemployment was in Burnley in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Burnley was in each of the last seven years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about unemployment. (168320,167908)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Burnley Parliamentary Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The attached table gives the annual average number of people claiming JSA for over 12 months, and the annual average number of these claimants aged 18 to 24 years, in the Burnley constituency, for each year since 1997. The table also shows the annual average total number of JSA claimants in the constituency for these years.
	
		Annual average number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), and number claiming for at least twelve months: Burnley parliamentary constituency, 1997–2003
		
			Claimants for at least 12 months(15) 
			  All claimants All ages Aged 18–24 
		
		
			 1997 1,531 220 23 
			 1998 1,413 153 12 
			 1999 1,538 163 6 
			 2000 1,301 122 (16)— 
			 2001 1,187 87 (16)— 
			 2002 1,168 84 (16)— 
			 2003 1,091 74 (16)— 
		
	
	(15) Computerised claims only.
	(16) Value between 1 and 5, withheld to prevent disclosure.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Unemployment

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in each year since 1997 in Manchester Gorton.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Manchester, Gorton.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Manchester, Gorton Parliamentary Constituency.
	However, ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies. The table below gives the annual average number of JSA claimants for the Manchester, Gorton constituency for each year since 1997.
	
		Number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the Manchester, Gorton parliamentary constituency, 1997–2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 4,688 
			 1998 3,963 
			 1999 3,602 
			 2000 3,224 
			 2001 3,017 
			 2002 3,099 
			 2003 3,137

The Shadow Economy

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how much revenue has been lost by the Exchequer as a result of the shadow economy in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no reliable overall estimate of the revenue lost as a result of the shadow economy. Lord Grabiner in his review of the hidden economy and the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration have both concluded that it is a concept difficult if not impossible to measure. The Revenue continues to monitor new developments in this area.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Adventure Capital Fund

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Adventure Capital Fund.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Adventure Capital Fund was launched in December 2002 to pioneer a new form of long-term investment in community enterprises. The Fund represents a unique partnership between the Government Departments (the Home Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Trade and Industry), and several Regional Development Agencies, as funders, and four leading voluntary organisations in the field of social and economic regeneration, as delivery partners. The delivery partners are the Development Trusts Association, the Scarman Trust, the New Economics Foundation and the Local Investment Fund which is the accountable body for the fund.
	The aim of the fund is to demonstrate an effective way of providing 'patient capital' to fill the investment gap faced by community organisations wishing to move from grant dependency to sustainability through developing enterprise. This gap was clearly identified in the Social Investment Task Force report (October 2001) and the more recent Bank of England Report on Finance for Social Enterprise (May 2003).
	In 2003, Home Office Funding totalling £2 million was invested in 10 community enterprises, with a further £375,000 being awarded to 25 organisations in pre-investment business development grants with funding from four Regional Development Agencies (Yorkshire and Humber), East Midlands, East of England and London). In 2004, a total of £4.5 million is available from Home Office assets recovery and the DTI Phoenix Fund, plus some further allocations from RDAs for business development grants. All grant and investment recipients receive one-to-one organisational development support. The cost of this support, of management of the Fund and evaluation of the programme has been met by ODPM's Neighbourhood Renewal Unit.

Asylum Appeals

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a delay to the date for an appeal hearing with the Immigration Service can be granted if a claimant has not received a decision letter on time from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Timeous receipt of the decision letter by the applicant is of no relevance to whether a delay to the date for an appeal hearing may be granted. No appeal hearing can be fixed until an appeal has been lodged. Receipt of a decision determines the start of the time limits that apply to lodging an appeal as set out in my answer to the hon. Member on 13 April 2004, Official Report, 420 column 86W.
	The date of appeal hearings are not the responsibility of the Immigration Service or any other part of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. They are theresponsibility of the independent Immigration Appellate Authority. The appeal would not be listed for hearing until it has been received by the Immigration Appellate Authority. A party to the appeal can request an adjournment of the hearing to a later date, but only if they can show good reason why an adjournment is necessary, and have satisfied the adjudicator or Tribunal that the appeal cannot otherwise be justly determined.

Capacity Building

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he defines the term, capacity building.

Fiona Mactaggart: When dealing with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), Capacity Building is   about ensuring that Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) have the skills, knowledge, structures and resources to realise their full potential. Capacity building supports and develops VCS infrastructure through the provision of developmental assistance and advice, enabling VCOs to achieve their objectives. It is as much about releasing existing capacity as about developing new capacity.
	The Government's recent review of community capacity building examined the support needed, particularly at neighbourhood or community level, to increase active citizenship and build strong communities, as key contributors to our broader goal of civil renewal. The resulting consultation paper defined community capacity building as "the activities, resources and support that strengthen the skills and abilities of people and community groups to take effective action and leading roles in the development of their communities". The review findings also recognised the importance of organisational development and culture change within public bodies, to ensure public servants are equipped to engage effectively with communities and the voluntary and community sector.

Child Sex Offences

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the   Home Department how many prosecutions for (a) sexual offences involving minors, (b) prostitution and trafficking involving children and (c) possession of child pornography there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in the table. Offences connected with prostitution and trafficking involving children cannot be separately identified in the statistics collected centrally.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for sexual offences(17) etc. against minors where the age of the victim is identified by the offence, 2000–02—England and Wales
		
			Number of persons 
			 Offences (18)2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Sexual offences involving minors 3,442 4,095 4,422 
			 Child pornography offences 413 486 621 
		
	
	(17) Principal offence basis.
	(18) Excluding Staffordshire.

Closure Orders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for   the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside Courts issued a closure order in the past four months.

Paul Goggins: Merseyside police records show that no closure orders have been issued in Merseyside, although a case is pending under Part 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Crime (Wirral, South)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Wirral, South has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.
	Wirral, South is part of the Wirral Basic Command Unit (BCU). Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Wirral BCU decreased by 0.9 per cent. (from 515 to 510). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable and within the Wirral BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Futurebuilders Programme

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the timescale for the implementation of the proposed Futurebuilders investment programme; what the mechanism is by which voluntary sector organisations may bid for allocations from this fund; who else will be eligible to bid; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Futurebuilders Fund is an innovative undertaking, designed to enable voluntary and community organisations to modernise and enhance their capacity to deliver first class public services, particularly to individuals who are not well served by current state or market provision.
	The implementation of the £125 million investment fund will be managed by Futurebuilders England Ltd., a consortium of organisations with experience of funding voluntary and community organisations. The Fund will provide finance to assist voluntary and community organisations, and social enterprises, in their public service work to acquire capital assets through a range of funding solutions, including grants and various forms of loans.
	Futurebuilders England aim to begin their first round of investments this summer. Information about designing the process, the mechanism for bids to the Fund, including investment priorities, the eligibility criteria and application process, is to be made available by Futurebuilders England at an information event they are holding for mainly voluntary and community organisations on Wednesday 5 May.

Offenders (Supervision)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether multi-agency public protection panels have sufficient resources to ensure that those offenders deemed in the high or very high risk categories are properly supervised or under appropriate surveillance.

Paul Goggins: The multi-agency public protection panels are funded as part of the core business of the police and probation services. The two sets of annual reports published so far indicate that arrangements are working well.
	Two pieces of research are currently being conducted into the multi-agency public protection arrangements. We expect to have the findings of both in the autumn. They will help to indicate, among other things, whether existing resources are being best used.

Paedophilia

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been made available for the (a) monitoring and (b) treatment of paedophiles leaving jail.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 26 March 2004
	The protection of the public from the risks posed by sexual offenders has been strengthened by a number of legislative measures and funding decisions the government has taken. The monitoring and treatment of sexual offenders comprise a range of activities, which the police and probation services co-ordinate through the multi-agency public protection arrangements (the MAPPA). It is not possible to breakdown the costs of each MAPPA activity because they will vary according to the level of risk posed by each offender and their circumstances.
	The multi-agency public protection panels are funded as part of the core business of the police and probation services. The two sets of annual reports published so far indicate that arrangements are working well.

Pardons

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in policy have taken place since 1997 on the use of free pardons.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (which resulted in the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 1997) provided those wrongfully convicted who had previously only been able to seek a free pardon with an alternative route of redress. In consequence no free pardons have been issued since 1997 and no changes in policy have been necessary.

Parole Board

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons were for the increase of £6.5 million in the grant to the Parole Board in the Spring Supplementary Estimates.

Paul Goggins: The Parole Board's grant in aid for 2004–05 is currently £4.215 million and there are no proposals to increase it.
	The higher figure referred to in the Question, includes a notional additional provision shown against the Parole Board. This provision was agreed by the Treasury and is in line with Parliamentary Rules.

Police

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in full-time police officers in Birkenhead has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002.
	Birkenhead is part of the Wirral. Between March 2002 and March 2003 police strength for the Wirral BCU decreased by 0.9 per cent. (from 515 to 510). The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable and within the Wirral BCU deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.

Prisons

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council will contribute to the stabilisation of the prison population.

Paul Goggins: The work of the Sentencing Guidelines will lead to a greater consistency in sentencing. It will in due course consider guidelines in respect of all criminal offences, which will apply to all courts. The Government have made it clear that prison should only be used for the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders, and that others are better punished in the community.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released on 10 March.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Information on the number of prisoners who were released on 10 March 2004 is not yet available.

Prisons

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisoner rehabilitation programmes; and at whom each is aimed.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service provide the following offending behaviour programmes which have been accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel and are aimed at assisting in the rehabilitation process:
	Enhanced Thinking Skills—A Cognitive Behavioural Programme for male and female, and can be sequenced with another programme.
	Reasoning and Rehabilitation—A Cognitive Behavioural Programme for male and female medium to medium-high risk offenders.
	Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it—This programme is for medium-risk male offenders convicted of assault, public order or criminal damage.
	Cognitive Self-Change Programme—It is for adult men aged between 24 and 50. They will be high-risk offenders convicted of at least two violent offences.
	Cognitive Skills Booster Programme—A programme for male and female offenders who have already completed a general offending programme.
	Healthy Relationships—A programme for prisoners convicted of domestic violence offences or who have a pattern of relationship problems.
	Sex Offender Treatment Programmes
	Core—The programme is for male medium and high-risk sex offenders.
	Extended—It is for male high and very high-risk sex offenders.
	Adapted—Designed to suit learning-disabled sex offenders across all risk levels.
	Rolling—Programme for male low and medium risk sex offenders, and sex offenders who have completed primary treatment programmes and who are serving long sentences can attend to reinforce learning.
	Booster—Programme for male sex offenders to reinforce learning.
	Drug Treatment Programmes
	Prison Addressing Substance Related Offending (P-ASRO)—Cognitive Behavioural Programme for adult men and young male offenders with low/medium drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	RAPt—Abstinence based 12 Step programme for adult men, women and young offenders with medium to high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	Prison 12 Step programme—For adult men, women and young offenders with medium to high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	Substance Treatment Offender Programme (STOP)—Cognitive Behavioural Programme for adult male offenders with medium/high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	Action on Drugs—Cognitive Behavioural Programme for adult men and young male offenders with medium/high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	FOCUS—Cognitive Behavioural Programme for adult male offenders with medium/high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	Ley Prison Programme—Cognitive Behavioural Programme set in a therapeutic milieu for adult male offenders with medium/high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	North West Therapeutic Community—Therapeutic community for adult male offenders with medium/high drug dependence and risk of re-offending.
	In addition the Prison Service provides a range of education programmes and other activities aimed at rehabilitation and increasing the opportunity for prisoners to find employment and accommodation on release.

Prisons

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 721W, on prison education, if he will make a statement on increased partnership working to improve opportunities for learning and skills across the range of prison activities.

Paul Goggins: The Government is investigating the scope for a delivery partnership between the Learning and Skills Council and the Prison Service (and in time the National Offender Management Service)—together with other key players such as Jobcentre Plus-to provide a more flexible, individually focused learning and skills service. The Government is planning to try out new models of partnership and delivery, beginning in the autumn with a small number of pathfinders. Meanwhile, the Government is looking to newly appointed Heads of Learning and Skills to maintain a focus on learning at senior level within each establishment, to help overcome obstacles to communication and joint working across regimes, and to develop imaginative partnerships with   organisations, including voluntary organisations, beyond the prison walls which can enhance prisoners' resettlement prospects.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on local strategies and initiatives developed by prisons for older prisoners.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not have a separate national Strategy for older prisoners but seeks to meet the needs of older prisoners through individual circumstances.
	Some local initiatives have been developed, including remedial fitness programmes for older prisoners, at a number of establishments. One establishment has set up an occupational therapy group, which provides prisoners of retirement age with the opportunity to work, do gardening, clean windows or tidy the prison grounds. At least one establishment has installed an activities day room for older prisoners and have developed links with the Salvation Army who run a club for the over 60's. An elderly life sentence prisoner unit designed to accommodate 15 elderly prisoners is scheduled to open in late June 2004 at HMP/YO1 Norwich.
	Following concerns expressed about the care of elderly prisoners, I have commissioned the Chief Inspector of Prisons to undertake an independent thematic inspection of older prisoners. The report of this inspection is expected to be published in the Summer.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the capital reductions costs for the private finance initiative prison contract became overstated; and what measures will be implemented to prevent a recurrence of overstated capital reduction costs for the contract.

Paul Goggins: There are no capital reductions costs for Private Finance Initiative prisons.

Prisons

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners were sharing cells designed for single occupancy in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The number of prisoners sharing cells designed for one person and the percentage, expressed as a proportion of the average prisoner population, is given in the table. Validated figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Percentage doubling Number doubled 
		
		
			 2002–03 20.4 14,586 
			 2001–02 17.0 11,440 
			 2000–01 17.2 11,292 
			 1999–2000 18.9 12,222 
			 1998–99 18.4 12,024 
			 1997–98 18.2 11,548 
			 1996–97 16.8 9,498 
			 1995–96 16.5 8,506 
			 1994–95 17.1 8,426

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for   the Home Department what plans he has to transfer theFoundation Training Company resettlement programme following the re-rolling of Edmunds Hill Prison.

Paul Goggins: An appraisal of Edmunds Hill is currently taking place following the decision to re-role this establishment. The future of the Foundation Training Company (FTC) resettlement programme at Edmunds Hill is one of the issues under consideration; it is envisaged that the FTC will remain at Edmunds Hill, subject to appropriate funding.

Prisons

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual average population of (a) HMP Liverpool and (b) HMP Altcourse was in each of the last six years; and what the present population is of each.

Paul Goggins: The population on 31 March 2004 and annual average population in each of the last six years of (a) HMP Liverpool and (b) HMP Altcourse is given in the table.
	
		Current and annual average population of Liverpool and Altcourse
		
			  Liverpool Altcourse 
		
		
			 31 March 2004 1,449 988 
			 2003 1,434 995 
			 2002 1,448 955 
			 2001 1,297 800 
			 2000 1,274 818 
			 1999 1,432 751 
			 1998 1,451 630

Suicide (Websites)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will proscribe websites which promote suicide;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with internet service   providers concerning suicide websites and chatrooms.

Paul Goggins: We understand the concern that has been expressed about such websites.
	Where they are hosted in the UK, those producing them may be committing an offence under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961, which makes it an offence to aid, abet, counsel or procure another to commit suicide, or attempt to do so and be liable to prosecution. However the courts have held that simply providing information about committing suicide does not necessarily constitute such an offence.
	More generally, we are in the process of opening up discussion internationally on wider issues of illegal content on the internet. In addition, as part of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, the Department of Health is working to promote the responsible representation of suicidal behaviour in the media. More generally, we are in the process of opening up discussion internationally on wider issues of illegal content on the internet. In addition, as part of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, the Department of Health is working to promote the responsible representation of suicidal behaviour in the media.

Vehicle Data Recorders

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic prosecutions used evidence based on black box vehicle data recorders to indicate the speed of the vehicles involved in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Caroline Flint: The information is not collected centrally.

Women in Jail

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women were in jail on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: On Friday 16 April 2004 there were 4,625 females in Prison in England and Wales.

Wormwood Scrubs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure has been incurred to date by the Home Office as a result of (a) injuries, (b) legal costs and (c) damages arising from claims made by prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs during the period November 1992 to October 2001; to how many prisoners damages have been paid; and how many cases remain unresolved.

Paul Goggins: Payments to prisoners and former prisoners arising from claims made between November 1992 and October 2001 at Wormwood Scrubs total £1,275,810. These payments have been made to 56 prisoners, one remains unresolved. The payments are global settlements for injuries and damages. For the same period, the Home Office has paid £289,533 for its legal costs in relation to these claims

Youth Offending Teams

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the statistical base is for the allocation of resources to youth offending teams for (a) drug and (b) alcohol programmes.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 22 March 2004]: The Youth Justice Board provide grant funding to Youth Offending Teams for substance misuse work which includes drugs and alcohol. They use a national formula which takes into account each Youth Offending Team   area's 10 to 17-year-old population, levels of deprivation based on indices supplied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and geographical size.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Contraception (Africa)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking through (a) bilateral programmes, (b) EU development assistance programmes and (c) other programmes to increase the percentage of women of reproductive age in Africa who use contraceptives.

Hilary Benn: Over one third of maternal deaths could be avoided if effective family planning services to avoid unwanted pregnancies were available and accessible. The Department for International Development therefore attaches particular importance to increasing women's access to reproductive health (RH) services including family planning. DFID champions reproductive health through our bilateral country programmes either through direct support to the health sector or through general budget support. Under DFID's bilateral programmes, contraceptives are normally provided as an integral part of broader programmes to promote sexual and reproductive health and prevent HIV/AIDS. DFID also supports the strengthening of national systems and capacity to plan, use and monitor supplies of medicines and commodities including for reproductive health. Since 1997 DFID has committed over £1.5 billion to health systems globally.
	DFID spent over £270 million globally on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes in 2002–03, (about two thirds of this support was targeted at sub-Saharan Africa), and is one of the leading bilateral providers of condoms (for men and women) and other forms of contraception to developing countries. Many of   DFID's HIV/AIDS programmes include large components for social marketing of condoms. In Nigeria we have committed £52.8 million for a condom social marketing programme that combines procurement and distribution with encouraging behaviour change, communication and capacity building.
	The UK's significant contributions to the European Commission Development Budget and the European Development Fund cannot be tracked back specifically for use on Reproductive Healthcare in Africa. Most EC resources are allocated by region or country in response to country government's own priorities, and details of the proportion of UK support for reproductive health are not available centrally. However, the UK has been working hard within the EU to protect the principles agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. The Cairo Agenda redefined sexual and reproductive health and rights. DFID and our EU partners are pushing to generate more political commitment for reproductive health and reproduction health rights, in for as such as the World Health Assembly and the UN Commission for Population, and Development to protect the gains made in Cairo which are now under pressure. The Netherlands are planning to highlight reproductive health and the need to have contraception readily available in their forthcoming EU Presidency. The UK has been in discussions with the Netherlands about how to maintain the momentum around this subject during the UK's Presidency of the EU in 2005.
	DFID is a major donor to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supports the Fund's work to provide the widest achievable range of safe and effective family planning and contraceptive methods. DFID also provides support to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which is the world's largest voluntary reproductive health organisation.

EU Development Assistance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will list the non-governmental organisations involved in the delivery of 2002 EU Development Assistance projects in (a) Benin, (b) Burkina Faso, (c) Cape Verde, (d) Cote d'lvoire, (e) Guinea, (f) Guinea Bissau, (g) Liberia, (h) Mali, (i) Mauritania, (j) Niger, (k) Nigeria, (l) Senegal, (m) Sierra Leone, (n) the Gambia and (o) Togo;
	(2)  if he will list the non-governmental organisations involved in the delivery of the 2002 EU development assistance projects to (a) Cameroon, (b) the Central African Republic, (c) Chad and (d) Sao Tomé and Principe.

Hilary Benn: The participation of NGOs in the implementation of the European Union's (EU) efforts to eradicate poverty is vital. A substantial proportion of EU development expenditure goes to NGO's whether through co-financing arrangements, thematic and geographic budget lines or the European Development Fund.
	I have listed the European NGOs, which received a grant from the EU budgetary line for NGO co-financing for operations in the countries you requested to. This does not include information about NGOs who received funding from other budget lines, such as EDF and Food Security. The EU does not collate this information centrally and it would be available only at disproportionate cost.
	European NGOs involved in co-financing operations
	Agir-Association Generale Des Intervenants Retraites
	Aide Odontologique Internationale—AOI
	Amitie Embrun Tiers Monde (Ex Amitie Embrunais Bilbalogo)
	Assoc. Amici Stato Brasiliano Espirito Santo—Centro Dl Collabora—Zione Comunitaria
	Auteuil International
	Centro De Informacao E Documentacao Amilcar Cabral
	Centro Regionale D'lntervento Per La Cooperazione
	Chretiens Pour Le Sahel
	Comite Catholique Contre La Faim Et Pour Le Developpement
	Comunita' Impegno Servizio Volontariato
	Cooperazione Internazionale
	Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung
	Deutsche Welthungerhilfe Ev
	Ente Nazionale Giuseppini Del Murialdo (Engim)
	Espoir Sans Frontieres Espoir Lutte Contre Uinfanticide (Elib)
	Essor
	Gruppo Laici Terzo Mondo
	Handicap International (Fr)
	Handicap International (Be)
	Institut Europeen De Cooperation Et De Developpement
	Intermon Oxfam
	Movimento Laici America Latina
	Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres—Comite International
	Protos—Projectgroep Voor Technische Ontwikkelingssamenwerking
	Rongead—Reseau Des Ong Europeennes Sur Les Questions Agro-Alimentaires
	Et Le Developpement
	Sante Sud
	Sight Savers International
	Stichting Cordaid
	Verein Zur F. Staedtepartnerschaft Freiburg—Wiwili
	Veterinaires Sans Frontieres
	Voluntary Services Overseas
	Vredeseilanden—Coopibo
	Welthaus Bielefeld E.V

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the delivery of aid to (a) Falluja and (b) Najaf in Iraq in April.

Hilary Benn: Iraqi Ministries, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, NGOs and Iraqi citizens have been working together to assist people affected by conflict in Falluja. For example: the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have provided blankets, mattresses, food, water, stoves, plastic sheets and emergency health kits for Fallujans outside the city; the Iraqi Ministry of Health, together with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Red Cross and Red Crescent and NGOs, have been working to ensure that sufficient medical supplies and assistance reach hospitals and clinics inside Falluja; and NGOs and local groups have distributed items including cooking gas, sanitation kits and hygiene buckets. The British office in Baghdad is in contact with a local NGOabout providing DFID funding for urgent humanitarian supplies.
	Iraqi Ministries, UN agencies, the ICRC and others have made preparations for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance, if required, in other Iraqi cities including Najaf. For example, 1.5 tonnes of medical and surgical supplies were distributed in early April to the Najaf health directorate.
	An emergency coordination group has been established to ensure the effective coordination of emergency assistance in Iraq. Its membership includes UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGOs.

Kenya

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the recent flooding in Western Kenya.

Hilary Benn: Recent heavy rains have led to flooding in Western Kenya as in other parts of the country. It is estimated that approximately 14,000 people are affected in western Kenya. The response is being managed by the Government, with assistance from the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). The Government are distributing food to seven districts, and KRCS is distributing non-food items. Neither are currently asking for additional assistance from the international community. The Kenya Meteorological Office is predicting that average to above average rains will continue in parts of western Kenya. The Rapid Onset Disaster Committee is planning for a potential figure of 60,000 affected, should the heavy rains continue into May. If this were to happen, then the Government of Kenya may ask the World Food Programme and others for assistance. DFID Kenya will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Millennium Development Goals

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs that need to be created annually in the developing world if the Millennium Development Goal to eradicate extreme poverty is to be achieved.

Hilary Benn: The MDG for income poverty targets a reduction by 50 per cent. of the proportion of the population living in extreme poverty (defined as an income of less than US$1 per capita per day in purchasing power parity terms) between 1990 and 2015. The World Bank's 1 latest estimates indicate that about 1.1 billion people worldwide live in extreme poverty. If projected growth remains on track, global poverty rates will fall to 13 per cent.—less than half the 1990 level.
	Reliable estimates of the number of new jobs required to eliminate extreme poverty do not exist. The majority of poor people in developing countries are outside formal employment, and progress towards the MDG can be achieved by improving opportunities in subsistence agriculture and the informal economy as well as by creating more formal sector jobs. Thus poverty can be reduced without necessarily involving the creation of additional formal sector jobs—for example, India has witnessed a sharp fall in poverty with little expansion of the formal sector job market. While a well-paid job can lift an entire household out of poverty, a poorly paid job may not lift anyone out of poverty. The International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s 'Decent Work' agenda 2 emphasises that the quality as well as the quantity of jobs is important. The rate of economic growth is the most critical factor in determining the attainment of this MDG.
	1  World Bank, "Global Economic Prospects 2004", Chapter 1 page 45.
	2  ILO, "Working Out Of Poverty", 2003.

Millennium Development Goals

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of reducing maternal mortality by 75 per cent. by 2015.

Hilary Benn: The Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health has a target to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015. This is equivalent to an annual reduction of 5.4 per cent. Approximately 529,000 women die annually from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
	Trends in maternal mortality are difficult to measure, but available data suggest that progress in reducing the maternal mortality ratio has been slow in recent years. With an average annual decline of 3.2 per cent. in the 1990s, the developing world as a whole is off target. While some countries have reduced maternal mortality, data suggest that some parts of Africa have seen an increase. A recent World Bank analysis suggests that only 17 per cent. of developing countries, containing 32 per cent. of the world's population, are on track to achieve the target.

Millennium Development Goals

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of reducing infant mortality by 66 per cent. by 2015.

Hilary Benn: The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for child health is to reduce the rate of mortality in children under five by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. The indicator that measures progress against this target directly is the under-five mortality rate. Infant mortality (deaths of children under one year old) and the proportion of one-year old children immunised against measles are used as intermediate indicators of progress.
	Globally child mortality is declining, and between 1990 and 2000 the under-five mortality rate was reduced from 92 to 82 deaths per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate declined from 64 to 57 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same period. There is, however, considerable regional variation in the rates of progress being made. Latin America is expected to meet the MDG target, but there has been much slower progress in South Asia, and slowest progress in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for over half of all under-five deaths. Recent World Bank analysis suggests that only 16 per cent. of developing countries are on track to achieve the target.

Rwanda

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being given to help women who were raped during the genocide in Rwanda and who now suffer from HIV/AIDS.

Hilary Benn: HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in Rwanda. Rwanda does not yet have the health infrastructure required to effectively deliver anti-retroviral therapy (ART) countrywide. But the Government have produced a comprehensive "Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS Control" and all the major donors, including the Clinton Foundation, the Global Fund and the World Bank, have committed to support it. This framework includes the progressive provision of ART to all who need it, through a network of health centres. Through a partnership between UNAIDS and five of the leading multinational pharmaceutical companies (the Accelerating Access to HIV/AIDS Care, Treatment And Support Initiative), Rwanda is one of the countries that have reached agreement with manufacturers on significantly reduced drug prices in the context of its national HIV care and treatment plans.
	The UK has committed £25 million through the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa Programme (IPAA) to increase capacity in certain National HIV/AIDS Commissions, including Rwanda. DFID is currently considering whether we can build on this engagement, to ensure that Rwanda has the capacity to manage and direct the various programmes of support.
	DFIF is also providing direct assistance to the survivors of the genocide through the Government's Survivors Fund (FARG). This assistance is currently running at some £200,000 per annum, and planned additional support up to £850,000 will enable FARG to broaden the services it provides to include advice and counselling on issues around HIV/AIDS.
	I have a specific concern over the inequity in access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment between the defendants and the witnesses at the International Criminal Tribunal (ICTR) for Rwanda, which is considering crimes committed during the genocide. While defendants have access to health care including ART, witnesses generally do not. I wrote to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, asking how the United Nations and the international community could work to resolve this inequity. The UN Secretary General replied, reporting that UNAIDS/WHO were identifying suitable health care providers, but seeking assistance from the UK to fund ART treatment for witnesses. I have responded positively and offered DFID assistance up to £200,000 for ICTR witnesses and others called by the Tribunal to receive healthcare, including ART, from a centre in Kigali.

SCOTLAND

Boundary Commission for Scotland

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for   Scotland when he expects the recommendations ofthe Boundary Commission for Scotland to be implemented.

Alistair Darling: The Boundary Commission for Scotland must report to me on its current review before December 2006. As I have said before, it is a matter entirely for the Commission when, within that timescale, it does so. I am required to lay the report before Parliament as soon as may be after its receipt, together with an Order giving effect to its recommendations.

Commission on the Scottish Parliament

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the remit of his Commission on the Scottish Parliament.

Alistair Darling: The remit for the commission on boundary differences and voting systems was discussed with the First Minister before it was finalised.

Commission on the Scottish Parliament

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State forScotland what budget has been set for the operating   costs of his Commission on the Scottish Parliament.

Alistair Darling: The budget for the commission on boundary differences and voting systems will be set during the course of this year. The financial provision will come from within current Scotland Office resources.

Departmental Computers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to update computer (a) hardware and(b) software standard packages used in his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office shares an information technology system with the Scottish Executive, which is responsible for the administration and maintenance of the system. The Executive has recently completed an upgrade of both computer hardware and standard software packages, including IT equipment used in the Scotland Office.

Whisky Duties

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on the proposed introduction of the whisky strip stamp.

Alistair Darling: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues affecting Scotland.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Colombia

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Colombia on tackling organised crime.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular discussion with the Colombian Government over tackling organised crime, particularly the drugs trade, not least because so much of the cocaine from Colombia finds its way onto our streets with devastating consequences. The drugs trade fuels the armed conflict in Colombia and seriously distorts the country's productive capacity. We will continue to work with the Colombian Government and other countries to end the global scourge of organised crime.

England Cricket Tour (Zimbabwe)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives from (a) the England and Wales Cricket Board and (b) the International Cricket Council to discuss the proposed cricket tour by the England team to Zimbabwe later this year.

Jack Straw: holding answer 23 April 2004
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have been in regular contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). At the ECB's request my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport and I will be having a meeting with the ECB on 4 May. The FCO has had no meetings with the International Cricket Council on this matter. We would be ready to do so if requested by the ECB.

EU, Latin America and Caribbean Summit

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will press for the issue of human rights defenders to be on the agenda of the EU-Latin America and Caribbean summit in May.

Bill Rammell: Preparations for the Summit are well under way, both within the EU and with our Latin American and Caribbean partners. Discussions at the Summit will cover the many shared interests and values of our two regions, including respect for human rights.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the coalition's strategy for replacing soldiers with Iraqi police for law enforcement duties, with reference to (a) provision of appropriate equipment and training and (b) ensuring appropriate knowledge of international standards for law enforcement.

Bill Rammell: There are now more than 75,000 Iraqi police working around the country. There is an extensive programme to train, equip and mentor both existing and newly recruited police officers in Iraq, in which over 100 British police trainers are involved. While significant progress has been made in many areas in building the capacity of the Iraqi police and ensuring that police take the leading role in law and order, the current security challenges mean that there is a continuing need for support from the coalition and Iraqi Civil Defence Force. The Coalition's objective is to hand responsibility for security in Iraq to the Iraq police and other security forces as soon as their capability and security conditions allows.

Iraq

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of President Gayoom's support for the Ba'athist Party of Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: We are aware that President Gayoom has met Saddam Hussein in the past, but have no reason to interpret this as support for the Ba'athist Party of Iraq.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the second source referred to in Paragraph 93 of the Intelligence and Security Committee's report, "Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction—Intelligence and Assessments", September 2003, was the intelligence based on documentary evidence referred to in Paragraph 89 of the report; and when this second source first reported to the Secret Intelligence Service.

Jack Straw: The Intelligence and Security Committee's report made clear that the Secret Intelligence Service's judgment about its second source was not affected by doubts about the authenticity of some of the documentary evidence received by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report also made clear that the second source reported in September 2002.

Irish Waters (Navigational Aids)

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for   Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Irish Government regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Transport and (b) the Northern Ireland Office regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

Bill Rammell: Discussions are on-going between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Transport at official level regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters. It has been agreed that the Department for Transport should take forward negotiations with the   Irish Government. A meeting with the Irish Government is scheduled shortly.

Latin America

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for   Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with the Government of (a) Guatemala, (b) Mexico, (c) Peru and (d) Chile; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The United Kingdom enjoys good relations, and has regular discussions on a broad range   of bilateral and multilateral issues, with the Governments of Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Chile. I myself visited Mexico in October 2003, Chile in December 2003, and Guatemala in January 2004. I hope that I will be able to visit Peru later this year.

Middle East

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Israeli Government in respect of concluding arrangements for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss with the Israeli Government issues relating to the Middle East Peace Process. However, the return of refugees is a final status issue and as such must be agreed by negotiation between the two parties. We continue to urge both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to implement their commitments under Phase One of the Roadmap as the best way to get to a negotiated settlement, and to the discussion of such issues which will take place in Phase Three.

Nepal

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1449W, on the gifting of military equipment to Nepal, what the agreed lines were relating to the planned supply of short take-off and landing aircraft to Nepal; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: 1 refer the right hon. Gentlemen to the reply I gave on 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1449W. I expect to make a full statement on the supply of two unarmed STOL aircraft once a final decision is made. A departmental minute is to be laid before the House in the near future.
	The agreed lines used by the embassy in Kathmandu in responding to press queries in December 2003 were as follows:
	"The UK Government is committed to supporting the Government of Nepal and working to end the suffering of the Nepalese people. One strand of this support is assistance to the Nepalese Security Forces, including the Royal Nepalese Army, in their efforts to combat Maoist aggression. Our non-lethal support aims to enhance RNA capability across a range of military activities.
	As part of this support the UK plans to provide two Short Take Off and Landing aircraft to the RNA in 2004. There is still some way to go on this process, which will go through the appropriate Parliamentary channels".

Official Residences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) cost of and (b) charge for an overnight stay is at each ambassador's and high commissioner's official residence; and what rules and protocols govern the calculation of charges to users.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 22 April 2004
	We have no record of official guests being charged to stay at residences overseas, although they may be invited to leave a small gratuity for the domestic staff. Costs to the Government would be limited to providing meals for the guests and costs such as utilities, laundry, and subsistence where applicable.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many seasonal agricultural workers scheme students are awaiting visa processing from (a) Romania and (b) Bulgaria.

Chris Mullin: The figures for the number of entry clearance applications submitted under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme which still await processing in Romania and Bulgaria are:
	(a) Romania: 0
	(b) Bulgaria: 228
	The consideration of all applications under this scheme has been temporarily suspended at our embassies in Bucharest and Sofia since 30 March.

Sudan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Darfur region and the allegations of acts of genocide committed by the Sudanese Government; and what discussions his Department has held with the (a) Sudanese Government, (b) United Nations and (c) EU on the situation.

Chris Mullin: The reports of systematic attacks on civilians, including rape, pillage and destruction of livelihoods in Darfur are alarming. We have for some time been urging the parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and to respect the principles set down in International Humanitarian Law. We, and the UN, are agreed that what is happening in Darfur cannot, however, be described as genocide.
	We have lobbied at the highest levels in Khartoum on Darfur, and are in almost daily contact with the Government of Sudan and the Darfur groups. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) spoke to the Sudanese Foreign Minister about Darfur on 24 March, and since then our ambassador in Khartoum has had a number of discussions with him.
	The UN Secretary General and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Darfur when they met on 15 April. We are in close contact with the UN, both in   New York and in Sudan, on Darfur, and the Department for International Development have provided key personnel to support the UN co-ordination there. We are also working closely with the European Commission and our EU partners on this issue.
	A humanitarian ceasefire agreement was signed on 8 April. This is an important step forward in resolving the crisis in Darfur. Work continues on implementation arrangements.

The Maldives

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign   and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet   representatives of the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to meet with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). However, officials in London and at our High Commission in Colombo (accredited to the Maldives) have met representatives of the MDP several times, most recently on 24 March.

The Maldives

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Maldivian nationals are being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Mike O'Brien: This is a matter for the US Government.

United States Entry Rules

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is available to UK citizens wishing to travel to the US on the requirements of the US Administration for (a) confidential financial information, (b) availability of visas and (c) grounds for possible deportation.

Mike O'Brien: All information about US visa and immigration procedures is available from the US authorities through their London Embassy website: www.usembassy.org.uk or by telephone to their Visa Information Service, details of which are available on the website. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) travel advice for the United States also gives information about some aspects of US immigration procedures of which British citizens should be aware when planning a trip to the US. FCO travel advice is available on the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk

United States Entry Rules

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to protect the interests of UK citizens wishing to travel to America, with particular reference to visa requirements.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has expressed his concerns to US Secretary of State Colin Powell about changes to the US Visa Waiver Programme that are due to come into effect on 26 October 2004. As US legislation stands, all British passports issued after 26 October 2004 will require a biometric for the holder to visit the US visa-free after that date. The UK is committed to introducing biometric passports, but not until end-2005. UK Government officials are also in discussions with the relevant US authorities on this issue. We hope that an extension will be granted to the 26 October 2004 deadline, which would minimise disruption to travellers. It is too early to be able to predict the outcome of these discussions. In the interim, some 400,000 UK citizens planning to visit the US would need visas. Those holding passports issued prior to 26 October 2004, provided that they were machine readable, would continue to be able to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme.

TRANSPORT

Bus Lanes (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of priority bus lanes have been created in Burnley since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Four stretches of priority bus lane have been created in Burnley since 1997, on St. James street, Church street, Westway and Padiham road, with a total length of 1.2 km.

Civil Servants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each civil service grade within his (a) Department and (b) Department's executive agencies, the total number of staff employed, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) ethnic group (iii) registered disabled and (iv) age group; and how many are registered disabled.

Tony McNulty: Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service is collected by the Cabinet Office and published in Civil Service Statistics. A copy of Civil Service Statistics, 2002 is available in the Library, and at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics. The 2003 edition will be published in summer 2004.

Cycle Lanes (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new cycle lanes have been provided using public funds in Burnley since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available in the form requested. There are currently 1.3 km of on-road cycle lanes, 6.7 km of off-road cycle paths, and 7.8 km of improved canal towpaths where cycling is allowed, in Burnley. The majority of these have been provided since 1997.

Cycling (Gloucestershire)

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage cycling in (a) the City of Gloucester and (b) the rest of Gloucestershire.

Tony McNulty: The Department does not hold information for the City of Gloucester specifically, but by the end of the period 2000–01 to 2005–06, Gloucestershire county council and South Gloucestershire council project that they will have spent £4.5 million of Local Transport Plan funding on cycling schemes.
	Both authorities have now drawn up action plans to improve their performance on cycling, building on a review of promotion and provision carried out by the English Regions Cycling Development Team.

Green Transport Schemes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the Department's strategy towards the implementation of green transport schemes.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The main focus of the Department's work to promote sustainable travel is by supporting the development and implementation of school and workplace travel plans. However, the Department also promotes and supports other sustainable travel measures such as car clubs and car sharing.
	On 17 September last year, the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Education and Skills published "Travelling to School: An Action Plan" and announced £50 million funding over the next two years to support this. The Action Plan asks schools and local authorities to work together to develop and implement travel plans for all schools before the end of the decade.
	We have also announced the continuation of our £500,000 a year programme of free Site Specific Advice to help organisations develop workplace, tourism and leisure site travel plans.

Motorcycle Diesel Spillage

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many (a) accidents and (b) fatal accidents involving motorcycles diesel spillage has been found to be a cause or a contributory factor in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: The available information does not   indicate whether diesel spillage was a cause or contributory factor in accidents. However the following table shows the number of accidents where at least one two wheeled motor vehicle was involved and where oil or diesel was present.
	
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 2002 0 35 166 201 
			 2001 1 32 168 201 
			 2000 1 37 178 216

Rail Review

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a report on the current rail review.

Tony McNulty: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, said in his Statement to the House on 19 January, the review's conclusions will be published in the summer.

Railways

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many peak-time train services serving (a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green (i) there are at present and (ii) are proposed by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The numbers of peak trains (arriving at the London terminus between 0700 and 0959) are:
	
		
			  Present Proposed 
		
		
			 Chelsfield 12 6 
			 Knockholt 7 3 
			 Dunton Green 7 3

Railways

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the passenger usage data for (a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green that the Strategic Rail Authority used in their consultation document on the Integrated Kent Franchise, broken down by (i) passengers buying season tickets and those not and (ii) passengers taking fast peak-hour trains to London and those taking slow, stopping trains in the peak period.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	This information is not available in the format requested. Ticket information for the year 2002–03 suggests that the average number of passenger journeys to and from these stations per day was:
	
		
			  Season Ordinary Total 
		
		
			 Chelsfield 1,700 350 2,050 
			 Knockholt 180 130 310 
			 Dunton Green 110 40 150

Railways

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions were made by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise document about (a) current and (b) future capacity in the peak-hour train services between Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green and London.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	Based on current rolling stock diagrams, and assumed train formations under IKF, the total number of seats on trains that stop at these stations in the morning peak period will be as follows:
	
		
			  Current Proposed 
		
		
			 Chelsfield 8,200 4,620 
			 Knockholt 5,300 2,310 
			 Dunton Green 5,300 2310

Railways

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions were made by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise about the number of peak-time passengers who will be diverted from (a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green to other stations because of the reduction in services; and what plans there are to (i) identify and (ii) address the consequences of diversion of passengers for (A) car parking and (B) disabled access.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The modelling work undertaken to date has been at a strategic level. Bidders for the Integrated Kent Franchise will be expected to tailor train capacity and local infrastructure based on their own demand forecasts.

Railways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Rail Review is expected to be completed; and when he plans to make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 April 2004
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, said in his Statement to the House on 19 January, the review's conclusions will be published in the summer.

Railways

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the owners of rolling stock leased by train operators.

Tony McNulty: Virtually all the rolling stock leased by passenger train operating companies is owned by either Porterbrook Leasing, HSBC, Angel Trains or Halifax Asset Financing.

Railways

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the progress being made in improving disabled access to trains;
	(2)  if he will bring forward the end date for inaccessible trains to 2020.

Tony McNulty: Since the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations into force in 1999, hundreds of new trains, which comply with the high standards of access for disabled people required by the regulations, have been introduced. These include 1,400 new carriages which have come into service in the last 2½ years. Another 1,000 are due in the next 18 months. In addition, many older trains, while not meeting full RVAR standards already have wheelchair accommodation and other features to assist disabled passengers.
	We have recently consulted on a number of proposals to amend the rail provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act. These include setting an 'end date' by which time all rail vehicles would have to comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. We have not yet taken a final decision on the best date to set. We are currently analysing the consultation responses and looking carefully at the costs and benefits of a range of options, including 2020. We will consult on the draft regulations needed to implement our proposals when the required new primary legislation is introduced in the form of the Disability Discrimination Bill.

Rural Bus Services

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural bus services in Burnley are supported by rural bus grants.

Tony McNulty: Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) is paid to local transport authorities; in the case of Burnley this is Lancashire County Council. It is for the authority to decide which services should be supported with the grant. We understand from the County Council that 2 rural bus services serving Burnley are provided by RBSG. There are a further 7 rural bus services serving Burnley provided through Revenue Support Grant funding.

Rural Bus Services

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural bus services in Heywood and Middleton are supported by rural bus grants.

Tony McNulty: Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) is paid to local transport authorities, in the case of Heywood and Middleton this is the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (PTE). It is for the authority to decide which services should be supported with the grant. We understand from the PTE that no bus services in Heywood and Middleton are provided by RBSG as this area is predominantly urban.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the Government has not yet complied with the EU Directive on vessel traffic monitoring and information systems.

David Jamieson: The United Kingdom already implements much of what the directive requires. My Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency held a consultation on draft regulations to implement the remaining requirements, which ended on 23 April. Analysis of responses and introduction of those regulations, amended as necessary, will proceed without delay.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the UK Government will take against ships entering UK ports without International Ship and Port Security Code certification after 1 July.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport is the Designated Authority to oversee the implementation and compliance of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code in the United Kingdom.
	Post 1 July implementation deadline, compliance with the ISPS Code will be required to guarantee entry into UK ports. Ships that do not provide evidence of having an International Ship Security Plan will be liable to control measures, which may include denial of entry, detention of a vessel or its expulsion from a port.

Taxis (Regulation)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will respond to the Transport Committee's Report on the Regulation of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle Services in the UK.

Tony McNulty: We shall respond shortly.

Unmanned Railway Crossings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed on unmanned (a) pedestrian and (b) vehicular railway crossings in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Details on the number of people killed on unmanned pedestrian and vehicular railway crossings in the five years 1999–2000 to 2003–04, provided by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Unmanned pedestrian level crossings Unmanned vehicle level crossings 
		
		
			 1999–2000 4 3 
			 2000–01 3 1 
			 2001–02 0 1 
			 2002–03 2 7 
			 2003–04 (Provisional) 3 5 
		
	
	Further details on accidents at level crossings are contained in the Health and Safety Executive's Annual Reports on Railway Safety, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

US (Visitor Visas)

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to publicise the requirements of the US Administration for visitor visas for UK citizens.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	It is primarily the responsibility of the US authorities to provide information on their immigration and visa requirements for British citizens. However, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives information through its Travel Advice about certain aspects of US immigration procedures which may be of particular interest to British travellers. This is regularly updated to reflect the latest position and is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk.

West Coast Main Line

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the upgrading of the Liverpool spur of the West Coast Main Line.

Tony McNulty: As part of West Coast Route Modernisation, it is planned to upgrade the line progressively between Weaver Junction and Liverpool, with the benefits being delivered from June 2005 onwards. These changes, along with improvements to other sections of the West Coast route, will provide for faster services between Liverpool, London and other key destinations.

West Coast Main Line

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total estimated cost is of the West Coast Main Line upgrade; and what proportion of this   cost is accounted for by (a) construction, (b) consultants and (c) compensation to train operating companies.

Tony McNulty: The total estimated cost of the West Coast Main Line project is forecast to be £7.6 billion. The upgrade comprises a large number of individual contracts whose composition is a matter for the contracting parties.

Working Time Directive

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his response to the consultation into the implementation of the Working Time Directive for mobile workers in the transport sector.

David Jamieson: An announcement on this issue will be made very shortly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government Pension Scheme

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime   Minister if he will make a statement on his proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Phil Hope: Draft regulations designed to ensure that the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales remains affordable to employers, members and taxpayers were circulated to interested parties for their comments on 31 March. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the new provisions will come into force on 1 April 2005. The proposals reflect the policies set out in our June 2003 White Paper "Simplicity, security and choice; working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5835) and are part of a programme of changes to the scheme announced on 23 July 2003. Further measures to modernise the scheme and to ensure its sustainability for the longer term will be circulated later this year.

Balance of Funding Review

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether interim financial measures will be put in place pending the outcome of the Balance of Funding Review.

Phil Hope: No. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister awaits the report of the Review which is due in the summer. We shall then consider what action is appropriate.

Balance of Funding Review

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with National Assembly for Wales Government on the (a) Balance of   Funding Review and (b) the parallel exercise in Wales.

Phil Hope: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 29 March 2004, Official Report, column 1256W. The Office Of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult the Welsh Assembly Government before making any changes as a result of the Review.

Diesel Spillages

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost has been to each fire brigade to clean up diesel spillage in each of the last three years.

Nick Raynsford: The costs to fire brigades of cleaning up diesel spillages, or other hazardous chemicals, are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Empty Homes

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government intend to allocate the council tax received from empty homes.

Nick Raynsford: A dwelling, which is unoccupied and substantially unfurnished is exempt from council tax for a period of up to six months. A dwelling which is   unoccupied, substantially unfurnished and either requires, is undergoing or has undergone within the last six months major repair work to make it habitable or is undergoing or has undergone within the last six months major repair work or structural alteration is exempt for a period of up to 12 months. After the exempt period, council tax is payable. Until 31 March 2004, a 50 per cent. discount applied but now local billing authorities may choose to reduce or remove this discount. The additional council tax raised from reducing or removing the discount on long term empty homes will be taken into account in the calculation of formula grant in due course. The Government have no role in the allocation of council tax received from empty homes.

Fire Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of a Public Service Comparator solution to the Ministry of Defence Airfield Support Services Project on the commercial viability of the Fire Service College at Moreton in Marsh; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Fire Service College is a service provider for the consortia bidding for firefighter training under the Airfield Support Services Project. The college welcomes the possibility of joint working with the Ministry of Defence. It has made provision in its business plan to do so but the College's planning remains flexible.

Green Minister

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in that capacity in the last three months.

Phil Hope: As the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Green Minister I have considered issues surrounding the Sustainable Development Task Force and the Sustainable Energy Policy Network (SEPN) of which I am a member. I am also lead Minister on the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill.

Green Minister

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in that capacity in the last 12 months.

Phil Hope: As the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Green Minister I am a member of the Sustainable Development Task Force, the Sustainable Energy Policy Network and ENV(G). I have also attended meetings of the ad hoc Ministerial Group on Climate Change and the Sustainable Building Task Group. However, it has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Green Minister

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the meetings at which a representative of his Department was present regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government, as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Phil Hope: As the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Green Minister I am a member of the Environmental Sub-Committee, ENV (G). However it   has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Gypsies/Travellers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs to Chelmsford local authority of the eviction of Gypsies and Travellers in the last six months.

Yvette Cooper: No estimate has been made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the costs to Chelmsford local authority of the eviction of Gypsies and Travellers in the last six months.

Homelessness

Alan Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many people are registered as homeless in North Tyneside;
	(2)  what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle homelessness in North Tyneside.

Yvette Cooper: Information on homelessness collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is in respect of applicant households, rather than persons. In the 12 months to the end of September 2003—the most recent period for which the authority provided information—North Tyneside reported 1,066 households accepted as eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need. As at 30 September 2003, 69 households were in temporary accommodation provided by the authority. Of these, 24 were housed pending completion of inquiries or a review; the remaining 45, along with a further 331 classified as "homeless at home", continued to be owed a main homelessness duty.
	The latest local authority Housing Investment Programme returns for spring 2003 show that North Tyneside submitted a 0–10 estimate on rough sleeping.
	In the quarter to the end of September 2003, the most recent period for which the authority provided information, North Tyneside reported that 14 households were in bed and breakfast accommodation provided by the authority.
	The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has   provided North Tyneside Metropolitan District Council with funding of £79,593 in 2003–04 and allocated £92,000 for 2004–05. This funding will support the authority in their continued implementation of their homelessness strategy which they had to publish for the first time last year.
	The Government's approach to tackling homelessness focuses on the problems homeless people face as well as places they live. This approach was set out in our March 2002 publication, "More than a roof".
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are investing significant resources into tackling homelessness—£260 million over three years (2003–04 to 2005–06)— double previous spending plans, together with changes to housing benefit subsidies, which are helping local authorities to meet the Government's commitment that by March 2004 there should be no homeless families with children living in B&B accommodation for longer than six weeks, and to sustain low levels of rough sleeping. It will also support new approaches that help people tackle the problems that are making and keeping them homeless—helping them rebuild relationships with their family, access training or employment, overcome debt or tackle drug addiction.

Housing (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the level of council funding for housing on the residents of Manchester, Gorton since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Since 1997 allocations of capital funding to local authorities for housing purposes have risen consistently by about 15 per cent. per annum on average. This includes the Major Repairs Allowance we introduced in 2001–02 specifically for the improvement of local authority stock alongside the Decent Homes standard which sets out minimum standards to be met by 2010. Manchester's allocations in the period 1997 to 2003–04 have risen by over 200 per cent. and have been supplemented by the announcement of £125 million to be made available to the Manchester/Salford Housing Market Renewal pathfinder project between 2003–04 and 2005–06. In addition to this welcome increase there is support through the Community Housing Task Force and Government Office for the North West to help the local authority and its tenants to choose the best strategy for long term improvement.

Local Authority Confidentiality Rules

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities had complaints upheld against them for the breach of rules on confidentiality in 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 ethical standards officers of the Standards Board for England completed 52 investigations (in respect of 34 authorities) relating to allegations of failure to comply with paragraph 3(a) of the code of conduct for local authority members. This provision requires that the member must not disclose information given to him in confidence or which he believes is of a confidential nature without the consent of a person authorised to give it, or unless he is required to do so by law. Of the total number of investigations, 11 were referred for decisions on action either by the Adjudication Panel for England or the standards committee of the relevant authority. Sanctions were imposed in five of the cases, and in two cases it was decided that there was no failure to comply with the code. Decisions on the other four cases are still to be taken.

Local Government Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which authorities receive area cost adjustment; on what basis it is calculated; how much each receives; and what plans he has to review it.

Nick Raynsford: The area cost adjustment is the element of the funding formula which directs extra resources to local authorities with higher wage and rates costs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister calculates an area cost adjustment (ACA) for every authority in England and it acts as a multiplier on formula spending share (FSS) formulae. Where local wages are low the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister raised the ACA value of that area to one, to ensure that low pay local authority areas do not lose out. Where wages and rates costs are higher, the authority receives a positive ACA top-up.
	It is possible to present the FSS figures for each authority in terms of a basic amount plus top-ups, one of which is the ACA. The figures provided in the table, which have been made available in the Library of the House, detail which authorities receive an ACA top-up and how much each authority receives split by FSS sub-block. These figures are consistent with the 'Simple Presentation' guide to the funding formulae, which is available on the internet at; http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/simppress/index.htm.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister calculates the ACA using the best available evidence on wage and business rate costs. The calculation is set out in the area cost adjustment methodology guide. This document is on the Internet at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/acamethods.pdf and can be made available in the Library of the House.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced in the 2001 white paper 'strong local leadership—quality public services' (CM5237) that following the anticipated reforms in 2003–04 the funding formulae will be frozen for at least 2004–05 and 2005–06. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not intend to change the way that the ACA is calculated during this period. If it is decided that changes to the formulae should be made for 2006–07, a full consultation on options for change would take place prior to the normal settlement round for that year.

Local Government Finance

Paul Keetch: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department includes fire authority, police authority and parish council precepts in calculations determining the level of increase in council tax bills; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The published figures for council tax bills in each billing authority area include all precepts. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has always published figures for the level of, and increase in, police and fire authorities' precepts as well as the billing authority's council tax including parish precepts and the total council tax bill payable in a billing authority's area. For 2004–05, information on levels of, and increases in, billing authority council tax with and without parish precepts, were published on 25 March and are available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ctax045.htm.

Local Government Finance

Paul Keetch: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average council tax bill for a Band D property in Herefordshire was last year; what it is expected to be in the forthcoming year; what percentage change this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The average council tax bill for a Band D property in Herefordshire was £1,071 for 2003–04 and is £1,185 for 2004–05. This represents an increase of 10.7 per cent. if the underlying figures are rounded to the nearest penny.

Local Government Reorganisation

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with stakeholders on   potential arrangements for local government re-organisation.

Nick Raynsford: As stated in the House on 10 March 2004, Official Report, column 1524W, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has established a working group to look at the practical implications of reorganisation, the first meeting of which took place on 9 March. Two sub-group meetings have also been held to discuss issues relating to continuity of functions and transfer of assets and liabilities. Meetings of sub-groups to discuss finance and staffing issues are to be held in early May.

Operation Fresco

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what   costs of the Defence Fire Service, incurred during Operation Fresco, were charged to his office's budget.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed to meet the additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in providing emergency fire cover during the firefighters pay dispute, through Operation Fresco. As at 26 March 2004, the Ministry of Defence had informed the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the likely total bill for this service would be in the region of £80 million. The Defence Fire Service's costs will fall within that total, but, as my right hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) made clear in his answer of 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 8W, these could be provided only as a discrete figure at disproportionate cost.

Torbay Council

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he will cap Torbay council in the year 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: When the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced the council tax increases for 2004–05 on 25 March, we confirmed that we were ready to use our targeted capping powers if necessary and that we aimed to notify any authorities which might be in line for capping by the end of April. I cannot say in advance which authorities these may be.

Traveller Pitches

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to (a) planning authorities and (b) the Planning Inspectorate regarding the number of traveller pitches which should be permitted in any specific location;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with representatives of gypsies and travellers regarding (a) the size of traveller camps and (b) agreed limits on the maximum number of pitches in any location.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has issued no specific guidance relating to the size of caravan sites, nor have we had discussions with Gypsies or travellers regarding the size of caravan sites. Planning Policy Guidance note 3 on housing requires local planning authorities to assess the local needs of specific groups across all tenures in their area. Development plans should wherever possible identify locations suitable for Gypsy sites and local authorities must decide planning applications in accordance with development plans unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

CABINET OFFICE

Buckingham Palace Garden Parties

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reason the nomination form for   garden parties at Buckingham palace excludes Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK from being nominated; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Different procedures are in place for extending invitations to Commonwealth citizens. Commonwealth citizens who are either visiting or resident in the UK may apply to their respective High Commissions in London who may nominate them for an invitation.

Contingency Planning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received on funding for contingency planning.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office continues to be in discussion with representatives of local responder bodies on the funding of their civil protection work. The public consultation on the draft Civil Contingencies Bill specifically asked about funding to support the Bill. The   results of the public consultation exercise were published in January 2004 and copies are available in the Library.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Accountancy Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte and   Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv)   PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by the Department and its agencies.

Christopher Leslie: From 1 January 2000 until 31 March 2004, my Department has let contracts for consultancies and other services with these accountancy firms on a number of occasions for a variety of reasons.
	Our net expenditure with these companies, for the period in question, together with examples of the type of services they provided and the projects they supported are set out.
	
		
			 Service provider Net spend 1 January 2004 to 31 March 2004 (£) Examples of services provided 
		
		
			 Deloitte and Touche 535,000 Consultancy support on the Tribunals for Users Programme and the IT Shared Services Project. Risk management training. 
			 Ernst and Young 760,000 Consultancy support on the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme. Financial advice linked with the Libra Project and the Queen Anne's Gate Project. Financial advice on major construction schemes. 
			 KPMG 361,000 Consultancy support connected with the Unified Courts Administration Programme. Support in connection with work to develop leadership capability. Financial advice on major construction schemes. 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 3,900,000 Consultancy support on the Consumer Strategy Project. Risk management advice and the provision of Interim Managers. Financial advice on major construction schemes. 
		
	
	This expenditure reflects the wide-ranging and fast-paced programme to modernise the Department's work, to increase efficiency, provide better customer service, and value for money for the taxpayer.

Debt Recovery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) state-employed bailiffs and (b) enforcement agents are employed by county and magistrates courts for the enforcement of debts; and how many of them have been certificated through a court procedure.

Christopher Leslie: 609 bailiffs are employed in the county courts. County court bailiffs do not require certification as this is only necessary for certificated bailiffs who, among other things, levy distress for rent under the Distress for Rent Rules 1988; this is not an activity undertaken by county court bailiffs. No other enforcement agents are employed by the county courts, and no enforcement agents are employed by the magistrates courts for the enforcement of debts.

Debt Recovery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the bailiff firms and enforcement agencies each magistrates court uses; and what fees and charges agreement each court has in place with the relevant firms.

Christopher Leslie: Responsibility for the employment of bailiffs and other enforcement agencies in the magistrates court system lies with individual Magistrates Court Committees (MCC), of which there are 42 in England and Wales. A list of the bailiff firms or other enforcement agencies used in each MCC area is set out in the following table. Fees and charges for the employment of bailiffs and enforcement agencies is a matter for each individual MCC and is therefore commercial in confidence.
	
		Bailiff or enforcement agencies used
		
			 MCC name Name 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset Drakes Group Ltd. Police 
			  Police 
			   
			 Bedfordshire Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 Cambridgeshire Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 Cheshire IPL International Ltd. 
			   
			 Cleveland AS Gent and Associates 
			  Equita Ltd. 
			   
			 Cumbria Police 
			 Derbyshire MA Julious and Co 
			  XMS Warrants Loss 
			  Control Solutions Ltd. 
			   
			   
			 Devon and Cornwall Churchill DC Ltd. 
			  Drakes Group Ltd. 
			  Police 
			   
			 Dorset CCS Enforcement Services Ltd. 
			   
			   
			 Durham Trans National Corporation (TNC) Plc 
			   
			 Dyfed Powys Menai Collect Ltd. 
			   
			 Essex Police 
			   
			 Gloucestershire Drakes Group Ltd 
			  Trans National Corporation (TNC) Plc 
			  Police 
			   
			 GLMCA CCS Enforcement Services Ltd. 
			  Drakes Group Ltd. 
			  Equita 
			   
			 Greater Manchester National Bailiff Services 
			  Equita Ltd. 
			  AS Gent and Associated 
			   
			 Gwent Swift Credit Services Ltd. 
			   
			 Hampshire and IOW CCS Enforcement Services Ltd. 
			   
			 Hertfordshire Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 Humberside Jacobs 
			  Wigglesworth and Co (Northern) Ltd. 
			   
			 Kent Trans National Corporation (TNC) plc 
			   
			 Lancashire Birchalls Ltd. 
			   
			 Leicestershire — 
			   
			 Lincolnshire Drakes Group Ltd. 
			  Loss Control Solutions 
			  Police 
			   
			 Merseyside IPL International Ltd. 
			  Howard Roberts Ltd. 
			  Reliance Security Group 
			   
			 Norfolk Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 North Wales Menai Collect Ltd. 
			  North West Commercial Services 
			   
			 North Yorkshire Phillips Collection Services 
			 Northamptonshire Rossendales Ltd. 
			   
			 Northumbria Regional Collection Services 
			   
			 Nottinghamshire Bristow and Sutor 
			  Police 
			   
			 South Wales Swift Credit Services Ltd. 
			   
			 South Yorkshire MA Julious and Co 
			  Rossendales Ltd. 
			  Equita Ltd. 
			   
			 Staffordshire Bristow and Sutor 
			  CCS Enforcement Services Ltd. 
			   
			 Suffolk Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 Surrey Drakes Group Ltd. 
			  Chandlers Ltd. 
			  Police 
			   
			 Sussex Chandlers Ltd. 
			  Police 
			   
			 Thames Valley Equita Ltd. 
			  Drakes Group Ltd. 
			   
			 Warwickshire Professional Recovery Services Ltd. 
			   
			 West Mercia Bristow and Sutor 
			  Loss Control Solutions Ltd. 
			   
			 West Midlands CCS Enforcement Services Ltd. 
			  Equita Ltd. 
			   
			 West Yorkshire AS Gent and Associates 
			  IPL International Ltd. 
			  Police 
			   
			 Wiltshire Drakes Group Ltd.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

British National Party

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether British National Party members have become school governors.

David Miliband: The Department does not collect details of individual governor appointments or the political affiliations of governors. The British National Party is not a proscribed organisation and, therefore, its members are free to stand for election or appointment to school's governing bodies. Once elected or appointed all school governors must comply with the laws including the legislation on race discrimination. Governing bodies have a specific duty to promote equality of opportunity and to promote good relations between persons of different racial groups.

Capita

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools Capita has entered as part of the Fresh Start scheme in each year since 1997; and how much funding they received for this.

David Miliband: Capita has not entered any schools for the Fresh Start scheme. It is for local education authorities to propose schools for this scheme to the Department.

Child Care

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Manchester Gorton in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year olds in Manchester local education authority area are shown in the table. The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.aov.uk/rsaatewav/.
	From April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three year olds in England whose parents want   one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four year old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Manchester Local Education Authority area 1997–2003Position in January each year
		
			  Three year olds Four year olds 
		
		
			 1997 3,700 6,000 
			 1998 4,400 5,600 
			 1999 4,200 5,500 
			 2000 4,600 5,400 
			 2001 4,600 5.400 
			 2002 4,600 5,300 
			 2003 4,600 5,200 
		
	
	(19) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four year old children.
	(20) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.

Child Care

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places providing wraparound care linked to early education have been provided since 2000.

Margaret Hodge: We had created, at December 2003, over 50,000 new wraparound care places linked to early education since 2001, and expect continued progress.
	In addition, we have now adopted a significant new approach to encouraging the integration of early years services. Since this manifesto commitment was made, the Children's Centres initiative has been launched and is now our key contributor to the growth of integrated early learning and childcare provision. Our intention is that 43,000 new integrated places will be created in Children's Centres by 2006. By 2008 we are committed to having Children's Centres in the most disadvantaged areas in England. Our long term aim is to have a Children's Centre in every community.

Child Care

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many child care places have been created in Manchester, Gorton since 1997;
	(2)  how many children in Manchester, Gorton have benefited from the National Childcare Strategy.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Manchester, Gorton. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Manchester local authority created 6,115 new child care places helping some 11,153 children. This shows an increase in stock of child care places, taking into account turnover, of 3,629 helping some 6,772 children.

Children's Centres

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms he will put in place to ensure that the additional £669 million to fund one children's centre in each of the country's 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards by 2008, will be used specifically for that purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Chancellor announced in the Budget that the overall allocation for Sure Start would be £669 million higher in 2007–08 than in 2004–05. This additional funding will take the Sure Start allocation to £1.167 billion in 2005–06, £1.483 billion in 2006–07 and £1.567 billion in 2007–08.
	This allocation is ring fenced for the full range of Sure Start activities, including the expansion of children's centres. The Chancellor announced a number of new commitments in the Budget that that will need to be met from the allocation, including increasing children's centres towards the goal of a children's centre in every community. We are committed to ensuring that these centres provide services for all children in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards by 2007–08. he funding for children's centres will make up a significant part of the full Sure Start allocation and will be subject to full monitoring and financial controls.

Children's Commissioner for England

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy that the Children's Commissioner for England should have powers equivalent to those of the Children's Commissioners for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are proposing through the Children Bill that the powers of the Children's Commissioner based in England should be in keeping with his responsibilities, which are not identical to those of Commissioners elsewhere in the United Kingdom. His proposed functions will include, among other things, acting as a children's champion and advising the Secretary of State on their views and interests, helping them to achieve the outcomes that children have identified as important investigating the effectiveness of complaints procedures open to them, and reporting annually to Parliament on how well the outcomes children seek are being met.

Class Sizes

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Greater London were taught in classes of more than (a) 25 and (b) 30 in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

David Miliband: holding answer 19 April 2004
	The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Classroom Assistants (Liverpool)

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many classroom assistants have been employed in schools in Liverpool, Walton in each year from 1997 to 2003.

David Miliband: The following table shows the full time equivalent number of teaching assistants in service in   maintained schools in the Liverpool, Walton constituency in each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which information is available.
	
		Liverpool, Walton
		
			  
		
		
			 1997 80 
			 1998 90 
			 1999 100 
			 2000 120 
			 2001 180 
			 2002 170 
			 2003 210 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on requiring people coming from abroad to work with children or young people to have checks equivalent to those carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau before they begin work.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 April 2004
	I have received no representations on this matter.

Criminal Records Bureau Checks

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for   Education and Skills if he will require people coming from abroad to have Criminal Records Bureau checks before they can take up positions working with children or young people; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 April 2004
	The Criminal Records Bureau is not able to obtain details of a person's criminal record from overseas. A limited number of overseas convictions are recorded on the Police National Computer, but the data are not comprehensive.
	My Department's guidance to employers in the education service about pre-appointment checks on teachers and other people whose work will bring them into regular contact with children draws attention to the fact that, if a person who they intend to appoint to work with children or young people has never lived in the UK, no purpose will be served by asking them to apply for a Disclosure when they come to this country as they will neither have a criminal record in this country, nor appear on List 99 or the Protection of Children Act List.
	The Bureau's Overseas Information Service provides advice to employers on the availability of criminal record information from overseas. The service currently covers 17 countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Irish   Republic, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Italy (excluding Vatican City) and Finland). The CRB is in discussions with the 10 accession countries to the European Union and aims to provide information through the Overseas Information Service about the criminal record information available from these countries within the next few months.
	Where criminal record information is not available, we recommend that employers take extra care in taking up references and carrying out other checks on a person's background.

FE Colleges

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the changes he is proposing for the funding of new buildings for further education, with specific reference to altering the match funding criteria.

Alan Johnson: All of the Department's funding for post-16 learning and skills sector capital investment is allocated to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The Council has sole discretion in how it chooses to allocate these funds to further education colleges. This includes decisions about the level of funding that it expects colleges to contribute to capital projects. This is an operational matter for the LSC. Mr. Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

FE Colleges

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places there were in North Tyneside local education authority in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of day care places(21) by type of provider—North Tyneside local education authority area—1997–2003Position at 31March each year
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Day nurseries(22) (23)— 600 620 770 860 (23)— (23)— 
			 Full day care(24) (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— 1,600 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools(22) 680 680 630 590 560 (23)— (23)— 
			 Sessional day care(24) (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— 600 
			 Child minders 1,540 1,430 1,300 1,300 1,100 (23)— 1,300 
			 Out of school clubs(22) 130 200 210 190 260 (23)— (23)— 
			 Holiday schemes2,5 140 190 2,300 (26)1,500 (27)180 (23)— (23)— 
			 Out of school day care(24) (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— 700 
			 Crèche day care(24) (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— (23)— 200 
		
	
	(21) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	(22) Data Source: Children's Day Care Facilities.
	(23) Not available.
	(24) Data Source: Ofsted.
	(25) From 1999, places at holiday schemes were counted once for each school holiday during the year. Prior to 1999, places were counted once only.
	(26) Includes schemes which were exempt from registration.
	(27) Places may have been counted once only. See footnote 5.
	With the introduction of the National Day Care Standards and the transfer of responsibilities for registration and inspection to Ofsted, child care places are classified according to whether they are full day care, sessional day care, childminder, out of school day care or crèche day care places. Previously, child care places were classified according to whether they were provided by day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs or holiday schemes. Figures for 2003 are not directly comparable with figures for earlier years because they are collected on a different basis. Some playgroups and pre-schools provide full day care and some former playgroups and pre-schools have converted to day nurseries.
	Statistics on the number of childcare places registered in England were published on 19 February 2004 in a report by Ofsted "Registered Childcare Providers and Places in England, 31 December 2003". The report is available on the Ofsted website, www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications.

Education Finance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the standard spending assessment funding was per child in (a) England and (b) the North Somerset local education authority in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: There have been changes to the structure of Standard Spending Assessments and their successor from 2003–04, Education Formula Spending, which make them incomparable over time: for example, several large transfers from SSA/EFS to grant funding. Only total funding per pupil (including SSA/EFS and grants) is comparable between years. Also, for 2003–04 and 2004–05, pension transfers to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council are excluded from EFS and total funding figures to enable comparison between years.
	
		Funding per pupil aged 3 to 19—Real terms at 2002–03 prices -- £
		
			  North Somerset England 
			  SSA/EFS Grants(28) Total funding SSA/EFS Grants(28) Total funding 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,510 110 2,620 2,720 110 2,830 
			 1998–99 2,610 80 2,690 2,820 60 2,880 
			 1999–2000 2,670 150 2,820 2,880 130 3,010 
			 2000–01 2,730 290 3,020 2,950 290 3,240 
			 2001–02 2,740 360 3,100 2,990 400 3,390 
			 2002–03 2,580 580 3,170 2,880 610 3,490 
			 2003–04 2,720 (29)560 (29)3,290 3,010 (29)580 3,590 
			 2004–05 2,970 (30)—  3,280 (30)—  
		
	
	(28) Grants are all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EFS pupils aged 3–19. Education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level are excluded.
	(29) Provisional.
	(30) Not available.
	Notes:
	1. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10 so may not sum.
	3. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC) 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	4. Real terms figures based on GDP deflators as at 26 March 2004 (2002–03 prices).

Failing Schools

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Burnley deemed to be failing since 1997 have since reached satisfactory standards.

David Miliband: Three schools in Burnley have been classified by Ofsted as needing Special Measures since summer 1997 and have subsequently come out of special measures status.

Failing Schools

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Manchester, Gorton deemed to be failing since 1997 have since reached satisfactory standards.

David Miliband: Two schools in Manchester Gorton have been placed in special measures since 1997, an infant and a junior school which amalgamated in January 2001 and became one primary school. The resulting school remained in special measures until 2001. It was inspected by Ofsted in November 2003 and was found to be an effective and improving school with good teaching and rising standards.

Failing Schools

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Preston deemed to be failing since 1997 have since reached satisfactory standards.

David Miliband: Six schools in Preston have been classified by Ofsted as needing Special Measures since summer 1997 and have subsequently been restored to health. Three schools that were already in Special Measures before 1997 have been restored since.

Educational Attainment

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 15 and 16-year-olds in Manchester, Gorton achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils(31) achieving five or more grades A*-C -- Percentage
		
			  Academic year Manchester, Gorton parliamentary constituency  England 
		
		
			 1997 19.4 45.1 
			 1998 26.2 46.3 
			 1999 27.9 47.9 
			 2000 29.8 49.2 
			 2001 26.5 50.0 
			 2002 34.9 51.6 
			 2003 36.8 52.9 
		
	
	(31) GCSE/GNVQ results are reported as standard as the results of pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year ie 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.

Educational Attainment

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage ofpupils in Manchester, Gorton reached the (a) mathematics and (b) English standard in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The results from the 2003 National Curriculum tests showed that 75 per cent. of 11-year-olds in England reached Level 4 in English and 73 per cent. in mathematics. These results represent a significant improvement in standards—of 12 percentage points in English and 11 percentage points in mathematics—since 1997, reflecting the impact of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies on primary schools. We remain absolutely committed, through our new Primary Strategy, to supporting schools to achieve the ambitious targets we have set for standards of literacy and numeracy.
	The follow table shows the number and percentage of pupils in Manchester Gorton who have achieved Level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests since 1997. The results for Manchester Gorton are below the national average but show significant improvements since 1997 in both English and mathematics in line with the improvements nationally.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 English(32) 568 548 593 621 638 688 690 
			 Mathematics(32) 526 456 584 612 628 711 659 
			 English(33) 53 52 56 61 62 62 64 
			 Mathematics(33) 49 43 55 60 61 64 61 
		
	
	(32) The number of eligible pupils for the Key Stage 2 tests varies slightly from year to year
	(33) Percentage of pupils

Educational Attainment

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in   England achieved grades A*-C at GCSE in (a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) mathematics and English in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving grades A*-C in GCSE (a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) mathematics and English are shown in the following table:
	
		Percentage
		
			  Mathematics English Mathematics and English 
		
		
			 2003 51.1 60.2 42.9 
			 2002 52.3 59.9 43.4 
			 2001 50.8 58.6 41.9 
			 2000 50.0 58.6 41.2 
			 1999 48.6 57.8 39.8 
			 1998 47.4 56.1 38.1 
			 1997 46.8 54.8 36.8

Further Education (Cleethorpes)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people attended (a) university and (b) further education from Cleethorpes constituency in each year since 1995.

Alan Johnson: Figures are not available by constituency. The available information is given in the tables.
	
		Number of 18-year-old applicants, domiciled in North East Lincolnshire LEA1 accepted through UCAS to full time undergraduate HE study, 1995–2002 entry.
		
			  Academic year North East Lincolnshire  Humberside 
		
		
			 1995/96 — 1,663 
			 1996/97 — 1,714 
			 1997/98 312 — 
			 1998/99 306 — 
			 1999/2000 317 — 
			 2000/01 311 — 
			 2001/02 339 — 
			 2002/03 312 — 
		
	
	(34) Prior to 1997, North East Lincolnshire was contained within Humberside LEA on the UCAS dataset, along with the City of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.
	
		Number of 16 and 17-year-olds in North East Lincolnshire LEA1 participating in full-time further education from 1995/96 to2001/02:
		
			 Academic year 16-year-olds 17-year-olds 16 and 17-year-olds 
		
		
			 1995/96 7,300 5,200 12,500 
			 1996/97 1,300 1,000 2,400 
			 1997/98 1,300 1,100 2,400 
			 1998/99 1,300 1,000 2,300 
			 1999/2000 1,400 1,000 2,400 
			 2000/01 1,400 1,100 2,500 
			 2001/02 1,600 1,100 2,600 
		
	
	(35) Prior to 1996, North East Lincolnshire was contained within Humberside LEA along with the City of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. Therefore, the number of 16 and 17-year-olds for the academic 1995/96 is the figure for Humberside LEA since no individual figures for the four LEAs are available.

Gloucestershire Local Education Authority

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much extra money in net terms is provided to the local education authority in Gloucestershire through the area cost adjustment; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 23 April 2004
	In 2004–05 Gloucestershire's Education Formula Spending Share includes provision of £5.345 million through the area cost adjustment.

GNVQs

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the future of intermediate and foundation GNVQs.

David Miliband: The timetable for the withdrawal of the   individual 6-unit (foundation and intermediate) GNVQs was published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on 27 November 2003. The withdrawal is taking place in three stages from 2005 to 2007, starting with titles with extremely low numbers of candidate entries.

Graduate Employment

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many graduates left university in each of the last five years; and how many went into full-time employment.

Alan Johnson: Information on the number of students graduating, and their first destinations, is published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in "Students in Higher Education Institutions" and "First Destinations of students leaving HE institutions" respectively. The latest editions cover students graduating in 2001/02; copies of these, and editions for earlier years, are available from the House Library.

Higher Education

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place in the proposed higher education reforms to ensure that students from (a) less advantaged and (b) other family backgrounds can attend the higher education institution of their choice.

Alan Johnson: We remain committed to fair access and believe that all those who have the potential to benefit from higher education should have the opportunity to do so. The social class gap among those entering higher education is unacceptably wide, particularly at the extremes. We are putting in place a range of measures, several of them through the HE Bill (so subject to Parliamentary approval), that support students' prospects of attending the higher education institution (HEI) of their choice.
	(a) For students from less advantaged backgrounds, we will provide help in a number of ways:
	by introducing a new Higher Education Grant, worth up to £1,000 a year, for new students who start courses from this September. Students with a family income of £15,200 or less will receive the full £1,000 grant, and those from families with income from £15,201 to £21,185 will qualify for a partial grant;
	by proposals to raise the maximum rate of the student maintenance loan to match median student expenditure on basic living items as measured by the latest Student Income and Expenditure Survey. The biggest increase will be for those students living independently in London. The loans will continue to be means tested as now for those from higher family income backgrounds. The higher rate of maintenance loans will be available to both new students and those who entered higher education prior to 2006;
	by proposals to introduce a new maintenance grant, for new students starting courses from 2006/07, of up to £2,700. This will benefit students from low income households thereby helping broaden access to higher education. We are proposing that an element of this new grant will be in substitution for the maintenance loan. In addition, students may choose to reduce the level of maintenance loan they apply for still further in the light of this new grant being made available and, in doing so, reduce their outstanding debt;
	by continuing to provide additional targeted financial support for vulnerable students via higher education institutions through the Access to Learning Fund. This will ensure that more of them are able to access and remain in higher education;
	by requiring any institution that wants to charge higher variable fees to give more help to poorer students, in terms of bursaries and other financial support, to do outreach work to encourage a wide range of students to apply to higher education, and to provide clear information on the financial help available to those from the poorest backgrounds. Details will be set out in an access plan, and agreed with the Director of Fair Access; by the operation, from August 2004, of the new integrated Aimhigher programme. This will help to raise young people's levels of educational attainment and aspirations. It will include supporting a range of activities that bring young people into contact with higher education institutions and their students, helping them to better appreciate what higher education involves and the likely benefits of undertaking it.
	(b) For those from all family backgrounds there are a range of other measures that will help prospective students make and pursue their choice of higher education institution:
	provision of support on tuition fees—from 2006, all full-time undergraduate students will be entitled to defer payment of fees until after they graduate and are earning more than £15,000. Repayments will then be made under a generously subsidised, income-contingent repayments system, with no real rate of interest;
	development with the National Union of Students of a new guide which will help students understand and access the range of information available and so make more effective decisions and choices;
	the availability, from 2004/05 onwards, of much more information about the quality and standards of academic provision at institutions. This will be readily accessible to applicants via a Teaching Quality Information (TQI) website, and will ensure that potential students have access to key information about institutions to inform their choice of HE institution and course.

University Research

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the level of Government funding for university-based research in each of the past 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The latest available information, shown in cash terms, is given in the table. Comparable figures for 1993/94 are not held centrally.
	
		Research income(36) of HEIs in the UK
		
			  £ thousand 
		
		
			 1994/95 2,245,467 
			 1995/96 2,356,831 
			 1996/97 2,455,930 
			 1997/98 2,616,607 
			 1998/99 2,846,527 
			 1999/2000 3,016,130 
			 2000/01 3,277,808 
			 2001/02 3,518,439 
			 2002/03 3,772,504 
		
	
	(36) Covers income from Funding Research Grants, the Office of Science and Technology Research Grants, and Other Research Grants

Jobs (Burnley)

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people were employed in tourism-related jobs in Burnley on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about tourism-related jobs in Burnley.
	The latest available data, from the 2002 Annual Business Inquiry, shows that the total number of jobs in tourism related industries in Burnley was 2,700. This total is obtained by combining figures for those working in the following industries, as identified by Standard Industrial Classification 2003:
	hotels
	restaurants
	bars
	activities of travel agencies
	library, archives, museums etc.
	sporting activities
	other recreational activities.

Learning Disabled Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many learning disabled children there are in England.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not available centrally at present.
	Information on special educational needs by type of need was collected for the first time in January 2004 and provisional data will be available at the end of April.
	Available information on the number of pupils with special educational needs is given in the table.
	
		All schools(37): number of pupils with special educational needs—January 2003 England
		
			  Number of pupils and percentage 
		
		
			 Number of pupils with a statement of SEN 250,545 
			 Percentage of pupils with a statement of SEN 3.0 
			 Number of pupils with SEN without a statement 1,169,780 
			 Percentage of pupils with SEN without a statement 14.0 
		
	
	(37) Includes maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, independent schools, city technology colleges, city academies and non-maintained special schools
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Local Education Authorities

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have been taken over by an improvement team in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Following agreement with the local authority in question, we have used various models of intervention to address poor performance in education services depending on the local circumstances. On the occasions where these models include the outsourcing by authorities of various education functions to another body, statutory directions have been used to enable that outsourcing to take place. Directions have been issued to the following nine local education authorities to contract out differing ranges of functions:
	1999—Hackney LEA;
	2000—Islington LEA;
	2001—Bradford, Haringey, Leeds, Southwark, Walsall and Waltham Forest LEAs;
	2002—Hackney 1 , Swindon and Walsall 1 LEAs; and,
	2003—Southwark 1 LEA.
	1  second directions.
	Non-outsourcing solutions have frequently been adopted. They have included (sometimes in combination) the restructuring of internal management; partnerships with other local education authorities; partnership boards involving local stakeholders and members with external and independent expertise in the local education authorities' strategic decision making processes; and the establishment of predominantly private sector brokerage alongside a partnership board.
	None of the interventions have resulted in a local   education authority being "taken over" by an improvement team or any other body. Whatever the model adopted, the local education authority has retained overall responsibility and accountability for the quality of its education services.

Mothers with Learning Difficulties

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what level of IQ would as a general rule indicate that a pregnant woman, without a partner, is so severely learning disabled her child should be removed at birth for adoption; whether the support and help of the woman's parents would be a factor in the decision; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on the care of children whose parent or parents have moderate learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what support is offered to mothers with learning difficulties to assist them to retain care of their children; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what (a) redress and (b) support is available to pregnant women with learning difficulties who are faced with the forced removal of their child at birth for adoption; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: A general duty is placed on local authorities by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under 18 who are in need by providing a range of services appropriate to meeting those needs.
	Assessments undertaken by local authorities of children who may be in need focus on the needs of thechild, the capacity of the parents and wider environmental factors, rather than solely on the characteristics of the parents. Whether or not any particular child is considered to be in need will depend upon the individual circumstances, taking all relevant factors into consideration.
	The White Paper "Valuing People" (2001) recognises that "social services have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children and in some circumstances a parent with learning disabilities will not be able to meet their child's needs. However, we believe that this should not be the result of agencies not arranging for appropriate and timely support". This means that the removal of children from parents with learning difficulties should be rare, but may be necessary in particular instances.
	Learning disability, whether moderate or severe, does not necessarily indicate that a person will be unable to care for their child, with adequate support where necessary. Factors such as communication skills and social functioning are also important.
	Later this year there will be a conference on parenting, run by parents with learning disabilities, and   supported by the Government and the learning disability voluntary organisation CHANGE.

National Childcare Strategy

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children in Birkenhead have gained from the National Childcare Strategy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many child care places have been created in Birkenhead since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Birkenhead. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Wirral Local Authority created 5,245 new child care places helping 9,597 children. Taking into account however, the stock of child care places in Wirral increased by 3,158 in this period.
	Between 1999 and December 2003 the Government's National Childcare Strategy has helped 1.67 million children by creating 925,000 child care places nationally.

New Deal for Schools

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding each school in Manchester, Gorton has received from the New Deal for Schools;
	(2)  how much public funding has been spent on repairing schools in Manchester Gorton in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Table A shows the schools in the Manchester Gorton constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which ran between 1997–98 and 2000–01.
	Since 2001 the majority of capital support has been allocated to schools and local education authorities by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment at constituency level. Table B sets out the capital support made by the Department to Manchester Local Education Authority since 1997–98, in total and by programme (including all allocations through NDS mentioned in table A).
	
		Table A: NDS allocations to schools in the Manchester Gorton constituency -- £
		
			  Year  School  Project details Grant awarded 
		
		
			 1997–98 St. Peters Urgent maintenance works (38)928,000 
			  Birchfields Primary School Improved Security (38)1,448,000 
			 1999–2000 Stanley Grove Primary School Replacement of HORSA unit 275,000 
			  Wilbraham Primary School Replacement of HORSA unit 350,000 
			  Wright Robinson Sports College Boiler replacement 1,001,000 
			 2000–01 Wright Robinson Sports College Replacement of defective window frames (Phase 1) 459,200 
			  Whalley Range 11–18 High School Public Private Partnership Project 1,185,862 
			  Whalley Range 11–18 High School Provision of two additional classrooms and administration offices 82,344 
			  Gorton Mount Infant School Upgrading of toilets 195,000 
			  Heald Place Primary School Upgrading of toilets 195,000 
			  St. Agnes CofE Primary School Roofing 724,400 
			  Wright Robinson Sports College Various school—upgrading technology rooms   270,000 
		
	
	(38) For NDS 1 the £928,000 and £1,448,000 grant allocated was for Manchester local education authority (LEA) wide projects, part of which was used for building maintenance work and improved security at each of two schools in the Manchester Gorton constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.
	
		Table B: Capital Allocations to Manchester Local Education Authority -- £000
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Assistance with Asset Management Plans — — 60 — — — — 
			 Voluntary Aided formulaic capital — — — — 111 629 799 
			 Basic Need 5,944 3,171 1,513 7,043 9,835 687 3,753 
			 City Learning Centres — — 20 3,445 2,415 — — 
			 Class Size initiative — 137 — 141 — — — 
			 Condition — — — — 2,949 4,542 5,877 
			 Devolved Formula — — — 3,143 2,476 3,753 5,826 
			 Early Excellence Centre — — 110 — — — — 
			 Energy — 138 — — — — — 
			 Modernisation — — — — — 1,875 3,522 
			 NDS1 1,448 — — — — — — 
			 NDS2 — 2,827 — — — — — 
			 NDS3 — — 2,056 — — — — 
			 NDS4 — — — 5,726 — — — 
			 Nursery Provision — — — 77 — — — 
			 Outside Toilets — 83 — — — — — 
			 Private Finance Initiative — 3,700 — — — — 35,000 
			 School Labs — — — 221 221 — — 
			 School Security 122 151 151 149 100 86 — 
			 Schools Access Initiative 30 105 150 280 447 615 914 
			 Seed Challenge — — — 264 297 521 517 
			 Specialist Schools — — — 300 — 200 — 
			 Staff Workspace — — — — — 99 216 
			 Supplementary Credit Approvals 250 771 1,029 909 441 1,881 — 
			 Supplementary NDS for VA Schools — — — 235 43 — — 
			 Targeted Capital Funding — — — — — 2,140 — 
			 Teaching Environments for the future — — — — — — 970 
			 Voluntary Aided School Grant 1,302 1,351 897 911 4,002 4,309 — 
			 Total 9,096 12,434 5,986 22,844 23,337 21,337 57,394 
		
	
	To date we have allocated £30.3 million capital funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Newcastle Children's Fund Partnership

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out the sequence of changes in financial allocations to the Newcastle Children's Fund Partnership for 2004–05; whether the clawback of funds in the 2003–04 year has been reversed; what the outline annual planning figures are for the partnership for (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; and whether underspending in earlier years can be added to future planning totals.

Margaret Hodge: Newcastle Children's Fund has an allocation of £1,215,059 for 2004–05. This is a small reduction from the original allocation of £1,250,000. The partnership had £65,135 identified as genuine underspend in the 2003–04 mid-year review and this was reallocated by the Department. I am keen to give partnerships as much flexibility as possible within Government Accounting Rules. This means I have restored flexibility to re-profile from one quarter to the next during the year and I am allowing partnerships to carry forward end year underspend.
	We are also giving partnerships more flexibility in delivering their commitment on joint working with local Youth Offending Teams to prevent crime. We have moved away from the rigid menu approach, although we are continuing to emphasise the need to focus on effective projects, such as Youth Inclusion Support Panels and Junior Youth Inclusion Panels. Where partnerships already have a strong focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and youth crime, they will be able to count those activities towards their collaborative working with Yots.
	The allocation for 2005–06 will be announced by August 2004. However we recognise that partnerships are keen to get some indication of funding levels for 2005–06, in order to help them plan effectively. The Secretary of State has therefore indicated to partnerships at this stage that the budget for 2005–06 will be no less than £110 million. We hope this provides a clear framework for partnerships to plan and maintain Children's Fund activity right through to the end of 2005–06, the end of the current Spending Review period. Beyond that, the Chancellor, in his Budget statement, has signalled a commitment to the Children's Fund until 2008.

Non-Pathfinder Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional resources will be made available to non-Pathfinder schools after 2005–06 to provide for additional staff to meet the requirement of the workload agreement.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 April 2004
	Our approach in 2004–05 has been to ensure a rigorous analysis of average cost pressures and a guaranteed minimum level of per pupil increase that gives schools headroom above those cost pressures. The details of our approach for 2005–06 will be announced later this summer. The level of resources in school budgets after 2005–06 will be announced in due course and will take account of the spending settlement for the Department for 2006–07 to 2007–08.
	However, workforce reform cannot simply be about the use of additional resources. Schools need to consider how they make best use of their existing resources, for example, by extending the role of support staff, maximising the impact of ICT and reducing reliance on expensive short term supply teachers.

Pathfinder Children's Trusts

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what basis the contribution from each relevant service to each pathfinder children's trust was determined.

Margaret Hodge: The contribution of resources to a Children's Trust is a matter for local determination between the partners of the Children's Trust board. Integration of services and resources will be based on local needs and circumstances.

Pre-school Provision (Birkenhead)

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-year-olds in Birkenhead in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Wirral local education authority area are shown in the table.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Wirral local education authority area—1997–2003Position in January each year
		
			  Three-year olds Four-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 1,600 3,800 
			 1998 1,700 3,900 
			 1999 1,700 3,900 
			 2000 2,900 3,900 
			 2001 3,100 4,400 
			 2002 3,200 3,000 
			 2003 3,200 3,500 
		
	
	(39) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
	(40) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.
	The latest figures on provision for three and four-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003" which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	We have made the commitment that by April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three-year-olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.

Primary Schools (Administrative Staff)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the job evaluation schemes carried out in primary schools for administrative staff.

David Miliband: Most local authorities, including Herefordshire, are party to the national agreement on   pay and conditions of local government staff (commonly known as the Single Status Agreement), which was negotiated by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services in 1997. The agreement commits authorities to carrying out job evaluations. My Department does not hold information on the job evaluation schemes either nationally or in individual local authorities.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2004, Official Report, column 626W, on school meals, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils live more than three miles away from the school that they attend; and how many of those are eligible for free school meals.

David Miliband: holding answer 22 April 2004
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of pupils living more than three miles(41) from the maintained primary and secondary schools(42)that they attend—January 2003
		
			  Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 Number of pupils travelling more than three miles 155,187 583,446 
			 Percentage of pupils travelling more than three miles (as percentage of all pupils) 3.7 17.8 
			 Number of pupils eligible for free school meals travelling more than three miles 12,204 46,596 
			 Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals travelling more than three miles (as percentage of all FSM pupils) 1.7 9.8 
		
	
	(41) Distances calculated are straight line
	(42) Includes middle schools as deemed
	Source:
	Pupil Level Annual Schools' Census

School Standards (Liverpool and Berkshire)

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 15 and 16-year-old pupils in (a) Liverpool and (b) Berkshire achieved five or more GCSEs at Grades A*-C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The percentages of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ in Liverpool and Berkshire LEAs from 1997 to 2003 are shown in the following table.
	Please note that since 1997 the results of pupils within the county of Berkshire have been reported under the six local education authorities which make up this county following local government re-organisation.
	
		Percentage of 15-year-old pupils(43) achieving five or more grades A*-C -- Percentage
		
			 Local education authority 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Liverpool 30.1 30.9 32.4 35.3 35.2 39.2 41.3 
			 Berkshire 48.9 — — — — — — 
			 Bracknell Forest — 45.4 45.4 46.6 49.1 45.5 49.2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead — 57.2 57.9 59.2 58.8 56.4 59.8 
			 West Berkshire — 54.5 56.8 56.0 56.1 57.1 60.6 
			 Reading — 42.7 42.9 45.7 46.8 44.3 45.5 
			 Slough — 42.9 48.1 51.4 52.4 50.5 53.4 
			 Wokingham — 56.2 58.2 59.9 61.3 62.6 62.7 
			 England 45.1 46.3 47.9 49.2 50.0 51.6 52.9 
		
	
	(43) GCSE/GNVQ results are reported as standard as the results of pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year ie 31 August, and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.

Schools (Capital Funding)

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital funding for schools has come from (a) private and (b) public sources in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The Government encourage capital investment from private sources, but do not hold information about total amounts. Recent government programmes which encourage such investment include the Private Finance Initiative, specialist schools, academies and Seed Challenge. This approach will continue in Building Schools for the Future. Local authorities can also secure private investment through agreements with developers.
	The following table shows the Department's support for capital investment, including the Private Finance Initiative, in each year since 1997. Some other departments also provide capital support for schools.
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 1997–98 0.8 
			 1998–99 1.1 
			 1999–2000 1.4 
			 2000–01 2.1 
			 2001–02 2.2 
			 2002–03 3.0 
			 2003–04 3.8 
			 2004–05(44) 4.5 
		
	
	(44) Budgeted allocation

Sexual Abuse

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirement there is on head teachers in private schools to report to the police allegations of sexual abuse of pupils by school employees.

Margaret Hodge: Proprietors of independent schools are under the same duty as governing bodies of maintained schools to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. They must comply with DfES Circular 10/95, "Protecting Children from Abuse: The Role of the Education Service". This guidance includes advice about the action to take following allegations of suspected abuse of pupils by a member of staff, including referral to child protection agencies.

Sure Start

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average full cost per child care place at a children's centre operating under Sure Start is for children aged (a) 0 to six months, (b) six months to two years and (c) two to four years.

Margaret Hodge: The Sure Start Unit does not collect this information. However according to research undertaken by the Daycare Trust the typical weekly cost of a fulltime nursery place for a child under two ranges from £107-£169. For children over two it ranges from £103-£149. Local authorities and childcare providers will decide on fee policies locally. LAs may offer free or subsidised places to children in need.

Sure Start

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the full annual running costs of a typical children's centre operating under the Sure Start scheme.

Margaret Hodge: It is not possible to estimate the typical annual running costs for a children's centre. Children's centres will offer a core programme including childcare integrated with early education, health, family and parenting support. They may offer additional services depending on the needs of the community. Local authorities are being asked to work with partners to reshape existing funded services, such as health visiting. Furthermore children's centres will be developed from a variety of existing provision such as Sure Start local programmes, neighbourhood nurseries, early excellence centres, maintained nursery schools and health centres all of which have wide ranging annual budgets.

Teachers

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new teachers entered full-time teaching in each year since 1990.

David Miliband: The following table shows the number of newly qualified teachers entering full-time service in maintained schools in England in each year from 1989–90 to 2001–02, the latest period for which information is available.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1989–90 12,700 
			 1990–91 12,300 
			 1991–92 12,700 
			 1992–93 13,900 
			 1993–94 16,700 
			 1994–95 16,600 
			 1995–96 16,300 
			 1996–97 17,100 
			 1997–98 18,000 
			 1998–99 16,800 
			 1999–2000 17,600 
			 2000–01 16,900 
			 2001–02 17,700 
		
	
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records.

Teachers

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many registered teachers were recorded as working in a non-teaching capacity in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many registered teachers worked for local education authorities in a non-teaching capacity in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: This information is not collected centrally.

Teachers

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have qualified as (a) teachers and (b) advanced skills teachers in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The following table gives the numbers of people who successfully completed initial teacher training courses in each academic year between 1996/97 and 2001/02, the latest period for which information is available. The table excludes teachers who gained qualified teacher status through employment based routes because the information was not available until 2001/02. In that year 2,210 teachers gained qualified teacher status by those routes.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996/97 25,310 
			 1997/98 24,040 
			 1998/99 24,070 
			 1999/2000 21,690 
			 2000/01 22,640 
			 2001/02 23,280 
		
	
	Source:
	Teacher Training Agency.
	The following table gives the numbers of teachers who have been successfully assessed for advanced skills teacher status in each financial year between 1998–99 and 2003–04. These assessments commenced in July 1998.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998–99 142 
			 1999–2000 480 
			 2000–01 120 
			 2001–02 865 
			 2002–03 1,895 
			 2003–04 1,145 
		
	
	Source:
	Westminster Education Consultants, National Assessment Agency.

Teachers

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher vacancies there were in Manchester, Gorton on the latest date for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to reduce them.

David Miliband: The information is not available in the form requested. In January 2003, there were two advertised vacancies for full-time permanent teachers in maintained schools in the Manchester local education authority area.

Teachers

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to ensure that fully-qualified teachers employed by Social Services have parity of pay and conditions with colleagues in mainstream schools.

David Miliband: None. My right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the pay and conditions of service of teachers employed by Social Services.

Teaching Assistants (Manchester)

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in schools in Manchester, Gorton (a) in each of the last seven years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The following table shows the full time equivalent number of teaching assistants in service in maintained schools in the Manchester, Gorton constituency in each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which information is available.
	
		
			 Manchester, Gorton Number of assistants 
		
		
			 1997 150 
			 1998 150 
			 1999 160 
			 2000 180 
			 2001 260 
			 2002 300 
			 2003 360 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census.

Universal Day Care

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the additional cost of offering universal day care for children under five.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 April 2004
	We have made no such estimate. Child care places, including those for full day care, are offered by a wide range of providers, including private nurseries, childminders, employers, local government and community organisations. The Government make start up grants available to help potential childminders and day care providers set up in business, as well as sustainability funding to help support good quality child care provision in danger of closing in disadvantaged areas.

University Students

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students attending university were from each of the lowest two social classes in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The available information is taken from the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers UK-domiciled applicants, accepted to full-time undergraduate courses. The method of calculating social class adopted for social class data for 2002 entry onwards is the National Statistics Socio-Economic Class (NS-SEC). Hence, proportions for 2002 entry and 2003 entry are not directly comparable to earlier years and have been given separately.
	
		Proportion(45) of UK domiciled applicants, accepted through UCAS from each social class, 1994–2001 entry
		
			 Year of entry 
			 Social Class 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 I—Professional 16 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 
			 II—Intermediate 44 43 44 44 44 44 44 44 
			 IIIn—Skilled non manual 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 
			 IIIm—Skilled manual 17 18 17 17 17 17 17 18 
			 IV—Partly skilled 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 8 
			 V—Unskilled 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Combined groups: IV and V 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 10 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	(45) of those of known social class
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
	
		Proportion(46) of UK domiciled applicants, accepted through UCAS, from each social class, 2002–03 entry
		
			Year of entry 
			 National Statistics Socio-Economic Class (NS-SEC) 2002 2003 
		
		
			 1. Higher managerial and professional occupations 23 22 
			 2. Lower managerial and professional occupations 31 31 
			 3. Intermediate occupations 16 15 
			 4. Small employers and own account workers 7 7 
			 5. Lower supervisory and technical occupations 5 5 
			 6. Semi-routine occupations 13 13 
			 7. Routine occupations 6 6 
			 Total 100 100 
		
	
	(46) of those of known social class
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

University Students (EU Member States)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate students from other EU member states have been accepted at United Kingdom universities in each of the past 10 years.

Alan Johnson: The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and cover EU domiciles accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HMD courses at UCAS member institutions in the UK. Early figures for 2004 entry show that EU applicants have risen by 14 per cent.
	
		EU domiciles accepted through UCAS to UK institutions, 1994–2003 entry
		
			   Year of entry 
			 Domicile 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria(47)  78 132 208 176 193 189 198 179 201 
			 Belgium 290 295 377 416 401 431 401 424 442 485 
			 Denmark 128 148 207 279 259 269 272 269 285 251 
			 Finland(47)  180 444 724 655 557 457 447 421 404 
			 France 487 720 883 1,288 1,337 1,519 1,690 1,551 1,710 2,029 
			 Germany 891 1,021 1,102 1,475 1,656 1,624 1,693 1,541 1,609 1,675 
			 Gibraltar 132 192 152 175 203 177 220 160 156 158 
			 Greece 2,207 3,448 4,947 5,804 5,565 5,046 4,005 2,721 2,081 1,690 
			 Irish Republic 2,984 4,298 3,815 3,878 2,933 2,602 2,273 2,180 2,390 2.874 
			 Italy 329 395 414 538 572 645 499 496 505 510 
			 Luxembourg 89 111 103 143 163 176 188 167 162 174 
			 Netherlands 210 224 233 237 250 245 268 242 284 340 
			 Portugal 134 177 242 287 269 313 304 313 321 356 
			 Spain 371 464 521 617 659 788 674 693 720 742 
			 Sweden(47)  213 365 674 791 936 913 773 727 683 
			 Total EU 8,252 11,964 13,937 16,743 15,889 15,521 14,046 12,175 11,992 12,572 
		
	
	(47) Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the EU in 1995.
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Urban Education Projects

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on Urban Education projects, with particular reference to the St. Cuthbert's Care project in Byker.

Margaret Hodge: There is no policy on Urban Education projects as such. This Department supports education initiatives in a wide range of settings and for diverse client groups, and the Children's Fund supports well over four thousand projects for children and young people. Newcastle Children's Fund Partnership has provided over £85,000 to the St. Cuthbert's Urban Education project between 2002–2004. Following a competitive application process against a range of criteria, the Partnership decided not to fund the project in 2004–05.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Academic Selection

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the alternative forms of academic selection to the 11-plus assessed by the Department of Education in the last year.

Barry Gardiner: The Post-Primary Review Working Group considered alternative forms of academic selection but concluded that no alternative form of testing, or teacher assessment, would be any less problematical than the current arrangements; that age 11 is too early to commit pupils to particular pathways and that it is unsound to believe that the more able should follow only academic type courses.

Assembly Elections (Malpractice)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Electoral Office has received complaints about malpractice following the latest Assembly Elections in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Chief Electoral Officer has received one complaint about malpractice following the Assembly Elections in November. However, it could not be fully investigated as no evidence to substantiate the complaint was provided.

Asylum Seekers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what plans he has to designate the Home Office under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, with particular reference to functions in relation to asylum seekers and refugees;
	(2)  what plans he has to (a) designate Work Permits UK under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and (b) provide that the collection and reporting of statistics on work permits be subject to the public equity duty.

John Spellar: The Home Secretary has advised me that in his view designation would have a serious and adverse effect on the work of his department, which includes Work Permits UK, specifically on the work of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. For that reason I accept his view that designation of the Home Office would not be appropriate. Wherever possible the Home Office is working within the spirit of the legislation.

Autism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training student teachers receive on the needs of children with autistic spectrum disorders.

Barry Gardiner: There is a comprehensive range of core competences to be covered by student teachers during their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses when most of a student's time is spent on school placement.
	As such, special educational needs provision mainly covers the recognition of pupils' special needs and focuses on strategies to meet those needs. Current ITE provision is, nevertheless, under review with the intention of developing approaches which match, more closely, the needs of teachers entering the profession.

Cannabis

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) arrests and (b) cautions there have been in Northern Ireland for (i) the possession of and (ii) the sale of cannabis since its reclassification.

Ian Pearson: The Chief Constable advises me that PSNI record the number of persons arrested or cautioned for possession or supply of Class C drugs. The following table sets out these figures in respect of all Class C drugs since 29 January when cannabis was reclassified. Statistics relating to Class C drugs are not maintained by the type of drug involved and it is not therefore possible to disaggregate those relating solely to cannabis.
	
		
			  Persons arrested Persons cautioned 
		
		
			 Possession of a Class C drug 94 19 
			 Trafficking offences involving a Class C drug 33 0

Cross-Border Bodies (Salaries)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the salary of each chief executive of the cross border bodies was in the last financial year; when the salaries were last revised; and what the percentage increase was in each case in comparison with (a) the rate of inflation and (b) the Civil Service pay increase.

Paul Murphy: The salary of each Chief Executive of the North South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland in 2002–03 is set out as follows. (There was no Chief Executive in post in the Ulster Scots Agency in post during that period.) Since bodies with headquarters in Northern Ireland operate for salary purposes on 1 April-31 March financial years, the figures given in the table are those that applied throughout the financial year in question. Those bodies with headquarters in Ireland operate on a calendar year and the figures given are those that applied with effect from 1 October 2002.
	The salaries of Chief Executive Officers' (CEOs) of those bodies with headquarters in Northern Ireland were last revised with effect from 1 April 2002, while those for CEOs of bodies with headquarters in Ireland were revised with effect from 1 October 2002, except for the CEO of Foras na Gaeilge whose salary was revised on 1 February 2003. The percentage increases involved in the 2002 revisions are shown in the table. The rate of inflation in the UK in 2002–03 was 3.29 per cent., while that in Ireland in 2002 was 4.6 per cent. The Northern Ireland Civil Service base pay increase for 2002–03 was 4.38 per cent. for the Senior Civil Service and 4.8 per cent. for other grades. The Irish Civil Service pay increase with effect from 1 October 2002 was 4 per cent.
	
		
			 Body CEO salary Percentage increase 
		
		
			 Special EU Programme Body £66,953 4.5 
			 Waterways Ireland £70,725 6.3 
			 InterTradeIreland £57,822 4.5 
			 FCILC—Loughs Agency £53,511 5.1 
			 Tourism Ireland Ltd. €126,246 4 
			 Foras na Gaeilge €92,949 4 
			 Food Safety Promotion Board €90,651 4

Curriculum Classification

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Department of Education's definition and criteria are for classifying curriculum subjects as (a) vocational and (b) academic in secondary schools in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: No decisions have yet been taken on these issues, which will be considered in the context of the proposed Entitlement Framework.

Housing

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the increase has been in housing executive rents in Northern Ireland over the past five years.

John Spellar: The increase in Housing Executive rents in Northern Ireland over the past five years is as follows:
	
		Increase in housing executive rents in Northern Ireland
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000–01 4.5 
			 2001–02 3 
			 2002–03 3.5 
			 2003–04 3.25 
			 2004–05 3

Housing

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland housing industry regarding the possible introduction of home information packs.

John Spellar: I have had no representations from the housing industry regarding the possible introduction of home information packs in Northern Ireland.
	I will, however, continue to monitor developments as regards the home information pack with a view to determining whether there may be merit, at some time in the future, in introducing similar measures in Northern Ireland.

Housing

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total of unpaid housing executive house rents in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

John Spellar: The information is not available in the format requested, however, collectable rental income and gross arrears in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			   Collectable rent Gross arrears at year end 
		
		
			 1999–2000 286.0 14.6 
			 2000–01 285.5 17.4 
			 2001–02 280.4 19.0 
			 2002–03 273.3 18.9 
			 2003–04 265.5 19.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Collectable Rent includes rents of dwellings, garages and district heating charges.
	2. Gross arrears include overpayment of housing benefit arising from tenants failing to correctly advise of thief financial circumstances.
	3. Gross arrears is a rolling figure which includes un-recovered arrears from previous years.

Invest Northern Ireland

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average financial assistance offered by Invest Northern Ireland was per job retained in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: The following table shows the number of jobs expected to be retained as a result of projects secured between 1998–99 and 2002–03, and the assistance Invest NI offered to retain those jobs. The information in the table does not reflect all job retention as a result of Invest NI activity, but is restricted to those generally larger indigenous businesses and inward investors for which information on job promotions/retentions are available.
	
		Assistance offered for retained jobs
		
			 Financial year Expected retained jobs Assistance offered for expected retained jobs (£) Cost per expected retained job (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,931 17,430,392 5,947 
			 1999–2000 1,796 14,059,950 7,828 
			 2000–01 1,896 11,936,019 6,295 
			 2001–02 1,711 15,351,204 8,972 
			 2002–03 4,175 26,974,296 6,461 
			 
			 Grand total 12,509 85,751,861 6,855

Libya

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the quantity of arms and explosives supplied by Libya to the Provisional IRA in the last 30 years.

Ian Pearson: This information is only available from intelligence sources. In the view of the Government it falls within the terms of Paragraph 4 of Part II (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Accordingly it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment.
	The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has undertaken to provide an inventory of the arms decommissioned to the two governments when its task is completed.

Motorcar/Motorcycle Racing

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public sector money has   been allocated to (a) motorcar racing and (b) motorcycle racing in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The amount of public sector money allocated to (a) motorcar racing and (b) motorcycle racing in each of the last five years by the Sports Council, the Northern Ireland Events Company and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is as follows:
	(a) Motorcar Racing:
	Public funds (includes Sports Council Exchequer, Sports Council Lottery, Northern Ireland Events Company awards and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment funding administered through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board).
	
		Motorcar racing
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 86,300 
			 2000–01 14,500 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 28,240 
			 2003–04 173,000 
			 Total 302,040 
		
	
	(b) Motor Cycle Racing:
	Public funds (includes Sports Council Exchequer, Sports Council Lottery, Northern Ireland Events Company awards and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment funding administered through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board).
	
		Motor cycle racing
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 9,700 
			 2000–01 56,461 
			 2001–02 132,100 
			 2002–03 282,268 
			 2003–04 320,702 
			 Total 801,231 
		
	
	The following table shows the total amount of Sports Council Exchequer funding allocated to the 2 and 4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Ltd. in each of the last five years. It is not possible at this time to break this funding down into separate data for motorcar racing and motorcycle racing.
	
		Sports Council for Northern Ireland Exchequer funding allocated to the 2 and 4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Ltd.
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 15,000 
			 2003–04 200,000 
			 Total 215,000

Nitrates Directive

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has been made of the effects of the Nitrates Directive on the (a) pig, (b) poultry and (c) dairy industry in Northern Ireland; and if he will undertake a full consultation before the provisions are adopted.

Angela Smith: Responsibility for ensuring that Northern Ireland meets its obligations under the Nitrates Directive rests jointly with my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The hon. Member for Dudley and I recognise that implementation of the Nitrates Directive will have significant implications for the farming industry. However, we also recognise that agriculture is a major source of water pollution and that measures to minimise the negative impact from agriculture must be introduced if we are to meet the requirements of the Directive. Our officials have been working closely with the industry in developing our proposals for compliance. The first of these, relating to the application of an action programme under the Directive to the whole of Northern Ireland, is currently the subject of a consultation exercise launched on 14 April 2004. Two further consultation exercises, on associated action programme measures and draft regulations, are planned for May 2004 and April 2005 respectively. An Economic Appraisal on the implementation of the Directive has also been carried out.
	The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently consulting in parallel on a Farm Waste Management Scheme to provide capital grant support and has allocated funding of £30 million.
	In addition, our officials are also committed to working with the industry to explore innovative and alternative approaches to slurry disposal which will be particularly important in the dairy, pig and poultry sectors.

Planned Maintenance Work

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the amount of planned maintenance work suspended in each education area in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Responsibility for maintenance work in controlled and maintained schools and other Board property rests with Education and Library Boards, while for voluntary grammar and grant-maintained integrated schools the responsibility rests with individual school authorities. Each Education and Library Board has been asked to submit a resource allocation plan for 2004–05 showing how they will allocate their total budgets and indicating the outputs that will be delivered with those budgets. The plans will include the amounts that the Boards propose to spend on maintenance this year. Before giving approval, the Department of Education will be considering the plans to make sure that they provide a clear picture of how the resources allocated to the Boards will be used and that they reflect the Government's commitment to raise educational standards in Northern Ireland.

Police Service

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many constables have joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland since the recent change in transfer arrangements from other police forces; how many full-time reservists have been offered the same facility to become regular constables; and what additional training would be required (a) for those transferring from other police services and (b) for full-time reservists transferring.

Ian Pearson: Following recent changes to the transfer arrangements from other police forces, provided by Section 23 of the Police (NI) Act 2003, PSNI intend to recruit 12 officers at the rank of Detective Constable. Two of this number have already been appointed.
	One officer has joined the PSNI as an experienced Police Trainee with a reduced period of training asallowed by the Police Trainee (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.
	There have been no full-time reservists offered the same facility to become regular constables as the Police (NI) Act 2003 Section 23 (3)(1) specifically requires the appointment of people with 'specified policing skills' and in respect of the Police Trainee (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 the Chief Constable has deemed an experienced police trainee as a person who has successfully completed a two year probationary period in a UK police service.
	The additional training provided for those transferring to the PSNI is bespoke and based upon the individuals' prior experience and training. However it is at least six weeks in duration and will include the following topics: Police and Community Relationships; Human Rights; Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland Specific Legislation; Firearms Training and Tactical Patrolling.

Police Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total expenditure on recruitment advertising by the Police Service of Northern Ireland has been in each year since its formation; what form this advertising has taken; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I am advised that the spend on police support staff recruitment advertising in 2002–03 was £432,921 and for 2003–04 was £128,860.
	For police trainee and part time recruitment the costs were as follows: for 2001–02 £1,135,047, for 2002–03 £440,750 and for 2003–04 £402,617.
	The costs of police trainee recruitment include television production and advertising costs. Television advertisements were shown on a number of channels including Ulster Television, Channel Four and RT .
	Newspaper advertisements were also printed in a diverse range of publications in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Psychiatry Services (Prisoners)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the   general psychiatry service to prisoners in the Province.

Ian Pearson: The Prison Service has contracts with two Health and Social Services Trusts for the provision of psychiatric services. Two Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists provide a total of 12 sessions (1.2 whole-time equivalent). A Specialist Registrar on a post-graduate training programme in forensic psychiatry, partially funded by the Prison Service, supports one of the consultants. A Staff Grade psychiatric registrar supports the second consultant. In addition, a medical officer from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety with a qualification in psychiatry provides two sessions a week at Maghaberry Prison.

Public Holiday Entitlement

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to abolish the public holidays on (a) 17 March and (b) 12 July in any part of the public service in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: I have no plans to change the observance of the bank holiday on 17 March and the bank and public holiday on 12 July by civil servants in   the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office who are located in Northern Ireland. Holidays for other public service workers are a matter for the relevant employer.

Travellers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to ensure that legal protection of Travellers is enhanced by the EU Race Directive.

John Spellar: Irish Travellers are already covered by the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The amendments to this Order to give effect to the provisions of the EU Race Directive apply to Irish Travellers and came into effect on 19 July 2003 to meet the deadline for implementation.

Travellers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in (a) giving legal effect to and (b) promoting a Code of Practice to Promote Racial Equality in Housing and Accommodation under Article 45 of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997; and what measures he proposes to promote good relations between travellers and settled communities.

John Spellar: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland consulted on a Code of Practice on Housing in September 2001. The Government will begin the process of giving legal effect to the Code when it is submitted to it as required by the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
	Irish Travellers will be covered by a Race Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland, to be published later this year.
	A Promoting Social Inclusion Working group was set up to recommend ways of alleviating the disadvantage faced by Travellers and the Government published its response to the recommendations of this working group on 25 February 2003. A Travellers Sub-Group is being set up within the NI Race Forum to oversee the implementation of the Government's response and have input, through the forum, into the implementation of the Race Equality Strategy.

Tree Preservation Orders

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the target length of time is between submissions of a request for a tree preservation order and a decision on such a request; and whether there are guidelines on keeping interested parties informed of progress.

Angela Smith: The Planning Service is responsible for processing requests for a Tree Preservation Order. There is no agreed time scale for processing such requests. These requests are processed as quickly as possible and each case is considered on its own merits. Interested parties are informed of Planning Service's decision in these cases.

PRIME MINISTER

Lyons Report

Joan Walley: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make   a statement on Sir Michael Lyons' report's recommendations to set up a Cabinet committee with a lead Minister.

Tony Blair: I will announce the arrangements for following up Sir Michael Lyons' report at the conclusion of the current Spending Review.

Phillips Review

Ben Chapman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the Phillips Review of the honours system, and on the methodology being employed.

Tony Blair: Sir Hayden Phillips, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Constitutional Affairs with special responsibility for the honours system on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, is reviewing current arrangements in the honours system, examining issues of diversity and transparency.
	Information has been collected from those involved in the system and views from members of the public and other interested parties have also been collected via the Cabinet Office website. Recent commentary in the press and by members of the public will be taken into account. It is hoped that Sir Hayden's review will be completed by the summer.

Chemical and Biological Weapons

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to the submission of the Royal Society on the case for a research centre to investigate the dangers from chemical and biological weapons.

Tony Blair: We have not formally responded to the Royal Society Report. Senior Home Office scientists and the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government have arranged to meet the Chair of the working group, Professor Herbert Huppert, shortly to discuss the group's recommendations.
	The report confirms that the Government's approach to coordinating the scientific response to terrorism is the right one. We are in complete agreement on the desired outcome towards a coordinated, cross-government research programme driven by the unique requirements of civil defence. The Government have put in place the measures needed to deliver this, including a cross-government civil counter terrorism research programme led by the Home Office Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Team.

Correspondence

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from members of the public in each year since 1997–98.

Tony Blair: The information is not available in the format requested.
	I receive many items of correspondence including from hon. Members, the general public, various charities and private companies. In the last two years, the total number of items of correspondence has been approximately 1.1 million, an increase from approximately 500,000 in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and 300,000 in 1998.
	The correspondence covers a wide range of issues and my office deals with them efficiently.

Europe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement of 20 April 2004, Official Report, column 156, what the evidential basis is for his statement that the myths that (a) the EU will be renamed the United States of Europe, (b) the Queen will be replaced as our head of state, (c) Britain will be forced to join the euro, (d) Britain could not mount a Falklands war or an Iraq campaign without permission from Brussels, (e) we would lose our seat on the UN Security Council, (f) Brussels will seize control of our oil supplies, (g) Brussels will have the power to set taxes in Britain, (h) our foreign policy will be decided by the EU and (i) we will surrender control of our borders have been propagated about the proposed European constitutional treaty.

Tony Blair: All the myths that I quoted in my statement of 20 April 2004, Official Report, columns 155–57 are in the public domain.

Flooding (Lewes)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Lewes constituency to inspect those areas which were subject to flooding in 2000 and where no flood defence works have yet been proposed.

Tony Blair: I have no plans to do so.
	Planned expenditure by the Environment Agency on flood risk management in 2005–06 will be 80 per cent. higher than in 2000–01. This increase has and will continue to enable greater protection of communities that are vulnerable to flooding. In the case of Lewes, in at least one area, planning permission has recently been granted for this work and construction should begin this year.

G8 Summit

Alistair Burt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations at the G8 summit for funds to be committed to implement the strategic framework by UNAIDS on Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

Tony Blair: We strongly support the lead role that UNAIDS plays in co-ordinating efforts to tackle the HIV crisis, including the needs of orphans and vulnerable children. We will continue to press G8 members to play their role in tackling this crisis.

Global Warming

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has accepted the advice of his Chief Scientist that global warning represents as big a threat to the world as terrorism.

Tony Blair: Terrorism and climate change clearly pose different kinds of threats to the world. Both are an extremely high priority for this Government, and we are doing all we can to tackle each in the way that is the most appropriate.

HIV/AIDS

Alistair Burt: To ask the Prime Minister if he will call for support for children affected by HIV/AIDS to be made a priority at the G8 summit.

Tony Blair: Tackling HIV/AIDS is a priority for the UK Government. We are concerned about the devastating impact AIDS is have in creating millions of orphans and vulnerable children. We are committed to playing our part is an effective response and this will be reflected in the new government strategy on AIDS, which will be published later this year and in raising it at the G8 summit.

Iraq

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Prime Minister when the director of the CIA first advised the British Government not to use the allegation that Iraq could ready weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.

Tony Blair: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on intelligence matters. However, this was not an issue between the US and the UK.

Meetings

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the environmental groups he has met since 1 January 2003.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range or organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	Since January 2003, I have met a number of environmental groups and their workers, ranging from mass membership organisations to local bio-diversity and quality of life organisations.

Ministerial Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the towns and cities in the UK he visited in 2003, giving in each case the purpose of the visit.

Tony Blair: In 2003, I undertook the following official visits within the UK:
	
		
			 Date Destination 
		
		
			 2003  
			 16 January Edinburgh 
			 25 January Manchester 
			 6 February Newcastle Darlington 
			 12 February Hillsborough (Northern Ireland) 
			 13 February Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, Edinburgh Glasgow 
			 27 February Canterbury 
			 28 February Swansea 
			 3–4 March Hillsborough (Northern Ireland) 
			 3 April Aldershot and RAF Lyneham 
			 7–8 April Hillsborough (Northern Ireland) 
			 11 April Sandhurst 
			 15 April Glasgow and RAF Leuchers 
			 24 April Birmingham, Cardiff 
			 28 April Manchester, Dundee 
			 9 May Middleton St. George 
			 7 June Durham 
			 3–5 July Birmingham, Liverpool, Garsten, Broughton 
			 30 July Thames Gateway Ingress Park, Kent 
			 4 September Northampton 
			 9 September Brighton 
			 18 September Bexleyheath 
			 27 September Southampton/Bournemouth 
			 23–24 October Nottingham 
			 6 November Basildon 
			 17 November Birmingham 
			 27–28 November Newport, Gwent, Cardiff, Bristol 
			 1 December Leeds 
			 19 December Darlington 
		
	
	I have also visited various areas within London including Croydon, Southwark and St. John's Wood and travel regularly to my constituency.
	My visits covered a range of matters including health, education, criminal justice and visiting the families of Forces serving in the Gulf.
	I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

National Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what definition of national security is used by the Government.

Tony Blair: There is no statutory definition of national security. The courts accept that the interpretation of what is national security is, within a wide margin of appreciation, a matter for the Secretary of State to determine on a case-by-case basis.

Washington Meeting

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what matters in respect of (a) compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and (b) ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change were discussed during his   meeting with President Bush on 16 April in Washington.

Tony Blair: I discussed a wide range of issues with President Bush, including Iraq, the Middle East Peace Process and other international security issues. As with previous Administrations, it is not the practice of this Government to make public all the details of discussions with foreign Governments.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what steps the British Government is taking to keep allies informed of developments in the fight against terrorism, with particular reference to the Yemen.

Tony Blair: We have regular contact with our key international counter terrorism partners including the Yemeni Government.

HEALTH

Social Services Departments

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that local authority social services departments abide by confidentiality guidelines.

Stephen Ladyman: The protection of privacy and confidentiality by local authority social services is one of the criteria taken into account in the course of the inspection and assessment of performance carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
	The Department has carried out a range of activities to ensure local authority compliance with confidentiality guidelines. In 2001, the Caldicott principles and processes for the management of confidentiality and access to personal information were extended from the National Health Service into social care. At this time, councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs) were required to appoint social care Caldicott guardians to take the lead in this within their organisations. The Department has issued guidance on confidentiality issues and is currently preparing an information governance toolkit for social care, which will include further guidance on confidentiality and information sharing.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to the accident and   emergency departments at (a) Weston General Hospital, (b) the Royal United Hospital, Bath and (c) the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 23 April 2004
	Information on the number of attendances at accident and emergency for each National Health Service trust is published and available at http://www.perfornriance. doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.
	Copies of the tables for each quarter from 2001–02 are available in the Library. Prior to this, information was published annually in Outpatient and ward attenders, England, copies of which are available in the Library.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available for the accident and emergency departments at (a) Weston General Hospital, (b) the Royal United Hospital, Bath and (c) the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The information requested is not held centrally.

Agency Nurses

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on agency nurses in each year   from 1997–98 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The national health service does not separately record the cost of employing agency staff. The figures shown in the table include total cost to the NHS of nurses not directly employed by NHS bodies.
	Expenditure by the NHS on non-NHS nurses is shown in the table. The figures include all agency nursing staff and any other staff not directly employed by NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities. Information is not yet available for 2003–04.
	
		Expenditure by the NHS on non-NHS nurses -- £
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 216,338,567 
			 1998–99 272,225,162 
			 1999–2000 361,656,683 
			 2000–01 435,431,882 
			 2001–02 554,323,821 
			 2002–03 627,889,817 
		
	
	Note:
	2002–03 data remains provisional.
	Source:
	Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trusts 1997–98 to 2002–03.
	Annual Financial Returns of Health Authorities 1997–98 to 2001–02.
	Annual Financial returns of Primary Care Trusts 2000–01 to 2002–03.
	Annual Financial Returns of Strategic Health Authorities 2002–03.

Ambulance Service

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues in relation to the maximum time which ambulances should take in   transporting pregnant mothers to hospitals in emergencies.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 April 2004
	All patients requiring urgent hospital treatment should be transported to hospital without delay. There are no maximum transport times which ambulances should take in transporting pregnant mothers to hospitals in emergencies. There are, however, targets for response times. As with all emergency calls to ambulance services, guidance on response times is based on medical need.
	Current ambulance response targets include:
	Category A calls: Presenting conditions which may be immediately life threatening and which should be responded to within eight minutes irrespective of location in 75 per cent. of cases.
	Category B calls: Presenting conditions which though serious are not immediately life threatening and should be responded to within 14 minutes (urban) and 19 minutes (rural) in 95 per cent. of cases.

Autopsies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to encourage hospitals to carry out autopsies.

Rosie Winterton: The decision as to whether to request a hospital post-mortem examination is for the treating clinician and the deceased's family. However, we are aware that in the past the taking and use of organs and tissue without consent at post-mortems has damaged public and professional confidence in the hospital post-mortem examination.
	We have issued new guidance to the national health service to help restore that confidence. This takes the form of a code of practice for those involved in communicating with families where a post-mortem may be necessary or desirable. It includes a revision of the consent forms required to be completed by relatives with the aim of helping families understand the procedure and enabling them to grant an informed consent to a post-mortem and the disposal of organs or tissue. This guidance is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/tissue Later this year we will be making available to NHS trusts a short video/DVD produced with the support of the Royal College of Pathologists that explains the reasons for, and benefits to be obtained from, a post-mortem and encouraging the consent of families to the procedure.
	We are also taking positive action to change the law to secure further changes to re-establish confidence. The Human Tissue Bill, currently before Parliament, ensures that whatever is done with the human body and its parts after death within the NHS will be done only as part of a transparent process and with appropriate consent. It will also introduce penalties for organ retention without consent as additional reassurance for the integrity of the new procedures.

CFS/ME

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what evidence he has collated to indicate that CFS/ME is a neurological disorder;
	(2)  what has been learned from studies of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in patients   suffering CFS/ME; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what evidence he has collated of (a) cardiovascular and (b) biochemical features in ME/CFS.

Stephen Ladyman: In our present state of knowledge, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) remains medically unexplained with various associated risk factors, and with variable symptoms from various systems in the body, including some neurological, immunological, cardiovascular, digestive and psychological symptoms. There are many different views on what causes these symptoms, and some of them are strongly held.
	In its report to the Chief Medical Officer in 2002, the independent working group on CFS/ME noted that there is no cure for CFS/ME but identified three specific strategies as potentially beneficial in modifying the illness: graded exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, and pacing. Graded exercise focuses on gradual but progressive increases in aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming. Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to empower patients to identify, understand, and modify their belief systems and behaviours. Pacing is an energy management strategy in which patients are encouraged to achieve an appropriate balance between rest and activity.

Conception Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many conceptions there were in Southend-on-Sea in each year since 1997, broken down by month; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. However, the information shown in the table has been obtained from the Office of National Statistics.
	
		All age conceptions for residents of Southend-on-Sea by month of conception, 1997 to 20011 -- Number
		
			 Month 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2 
		
		
			 January 218 226 193 229 220 
			 February 195 179 198 197 205 
			 March 182 205 214 213 225 
			 April 225 184 205 224 199 
			 May 208 234 198 208 218 
			 June 210 196 202 215 168 
			 July 230 232 195 167 198 
			 August 228 202 176 205 201 
			 September 197 192 205 205 191 
			 October 243 226 208 187 211 
			 November 253 220 202 203 237 
			 December 243 231 230 209 202 
			 All 2,632 2,527 2,426 2,462 2,475 
		
	
	(48) Latest year available.
	(49) Provisional figures.
	Source:
	Office of National Statistics.

Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultancy posts were filled in the last 12 months with non-British trained specialists in cases where British trained specialists had applied.

John Hutton: The information is not collected by the Department.

Consultants

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the revised good practice guidance on the appointment of consultants will be published; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: We anticipate that the revised version ofThe national health service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations good practice guidance will be released this summer. The NHS will be informed of the release of the document through entries in the human resources bulletin and the chief executive's bulletin. A copy of the guidance will be made available on the Department's website.

Delayed Hospital Discharges

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average delayed hospital discharge time was for (a) England and (b) the Weston Area Health NHS Trust in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not collect data on the average length of delays. However, data is collected on length of delays, broken down into four time bands. Due to reductions in the overall number of delayed discharges and the proportion of delays which exceed 28 days, the number of people who have been delayed for over 28 days is now less than 20 per cent. of the recorded over 2,790 in September 2001 to under 550 in December 2003.
	
		Percentages
		
			 Quarter/ year Delays less than 8 days Delays between 8 14 days Delays between 14–28 days Delays more than 28 days 
		
		
			 2001–02 
			 Quarter 2 22.7 17.9 19.8 39.5 
			 Quarter 3 24.3 16.6 19.2 39.9 
			 Quarter 4 23.9 19.5 20.6 36.0 
			 2002–03 
			 Quarter 1 26.5 18.1 20.6 34.8 
			 Quarter 2 27.6 18.4 19.8 34.2 
			 Quarter 3 30.0 18.8 20.5 30.7 
			 Quarter 4 36.1 20.2 17.4 26.3 
			 2003–04 
			 Quarter 1 37.6 20.0 19.2 23.3 
			 Quarter 2 35.5 18.6 19.7 26.3 
			 Quarter 3 49.2 18.0 15.9 17.0

Health Service Ombudsman

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases are being investigated by the Health Service Ombudsman; what the duration of an investigation by the Ombudsman from start to finish has been in the last five years; and what penalties are available to ensure that the Ombudsman investigates within a reasonable amount of time and ensures that hospital trusts report back within set time limits.

Rosie Winterton: This is a matter for the Ombudsman, who is completely independent of the Government. The Ombudsman's remit and powers are set out the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 as amended. Ministers have no say in the Ombudsman's decisions or investigations, nor access to the detailed information being requested.

Hip Replacements (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times for hip replacements on the NHS are in each hospital in Essex.

Stephen Ladyman: The finished admission episodes, mean and median time waited in days for hip replacements on the national health service within NHS trusts in Essex are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Trust name Finished in-year admission episodes Median waiting time in days Mean waiting time in days 
		
		
			 Southend Hospital 458 323 296.8 
			 Basildon and Thurrock   University Hospital   (Foundation) Trust 369 178 194.2 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare 547 183 190.3 
			 Princess Alexandra Hospital 399 348 283.5 
			 Mid-Essex Hospital Services 451 288 346.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant and within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The main operation is the first recorded operation in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	3. Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	4. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are un-grossed).
	Source:
	HES, Department of Health.

Hospices

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that (a) adult and (b) children's hospices receive a fixed proportion of public funding.

Stephen Ladyman: No. We believe that decisions on local health care provision should be made locally. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible within the national health service for commissioning and funding services for their resident population, including palliative care. PCTs are at the centre of the local planning process, working with voluntary health care providers such as hospices for adults or children who are viewed as important players and partners in the planning, provision and development of these services. The process of discussion leading to NHS funding agreements applies equally to hospices providing support and services to children as it does for those supporting adults in need of palliative care.

Hospices

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current arrangements are for funding hospices; what plans there are for changes in these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The level of national health service funding provided for hospices remains a matter for local   decision. There are no plans to change these arrangements.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible within the national health service for commissioning and funding services for their resident population, including palliative care. Working as part of cancer networks, PCTs should negotiate and agree with hospices the level of funding support provided for agreed levels of service.

Intermediate Care Places

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) intermediate care beds and (b) non-residential intermediate care places there were in March; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is currently collecting and validating this data. It is anticipated that the information will be available at the end of May 2004.

Medical Students

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students completed their studies in medicine at each university in each of the last six years; and how many in each year chose not to continue their training at hospitals within the United Kingdom.

John Hutton: holding answer 22 March 2004
	This information is not available in the form requested. There is no precise data on how many students do not complete undergraduate medical degree courses, nor on how many do not join the national health service medical workforce after graduating. However, apart from those overseas students who return home immediately upon graduating, we believe that virtually all graduates from English medical schools take up posts as pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) in the NHS within 18 months of graduating.
	The number of students who graduated from medical schools in England in the last six years is shown in table 1.
	
		1. Actual medical school output in England 1997–99 to 2002–03
		
			Total output of students 
			 University 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 University of Birmingham 155 169 169 192 191 189 
			 University of Bristol 141 141 139 124 158 142 
			 University of Cambridge 115 133 132 134 128 126 
			 University of Leeds 153 181 189 158 155 155 
			 University of Leicester 122 167 146 156 164 159 
			 University of Liverpool 180 162 173 190 180 187 
			 King's College (incl. United Medical and Dental Schools), London 322 320 359 309 308 322 
			 University College Medical School (incl. Royal Free Hospital   School of Medicine), London 338 297 352 320 305 361 
			 St. George's Hospital Medical School, London 189 150 157 160 127 189 
			 Imperial College (St. Mary's and Charing Cross), London 269 207 263 257 275 273 
			 Queen Mary's, London (Bart's and the London) 220 223 212 205 164 251 
			 University of Manchester 280 280 306 304 279 352 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 164 137 161 182 193 178 
			 University of Nottingham 162 152 168 164 188 197 
			 University of Oxford 106 100 102 100 102 94 
			 University of Sheffield 191 144 196 189 214 198 
			 University of Southampton 154 134 149 142 149 149 
			 Total England 3,261 3,097 3,373 3,286 3,280 3,522 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Funding Council for England.
	The number of United Kingdom-qualified PRHOs in England in the last six years is shown in table 2.
	
		2. UK qualified house officers in England 1998–2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 3,173 
			 1999 3,122 
			 2000 3,297 
			 2001 3,176 
			 2002 3,205 
			 2003 3,344 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce survey.
	Responsibility for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish medical schools is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Mid and South Bucks Health Community

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the definition is of the Mid and South Bucks Health Community; and whether this body has a statutory basis in law.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 23 April 2004
	The term 'Mid and South Bucks Health Community' refers to both the providers of health services and the people who use or have access to the health services in the Mid and South Buckinghamshire area.
	The body does not exist in law, but, within the geographical area of Mid and South Buckinghamshire there are the following trusts:
	Chiltern and South Bucks Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	Wycombe PCT.
	Vale of Aylesbury PCT.
	Buckinghamshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.
	Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust.

Minimum Data Setting Software

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in the use of minimum data setting software in the care sector.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 16 March 2004
	I am not aware of any developments on minimum data setting software.
	Work continues on the development of minimum data sets to support the sharing of information along care pathways and the production of comparative clinical information to enable services to monitor quality and clinical performance in each of the following national service framework areas:
	Cancer
	Coronary heart disease
	Mental health
	Older people, including single assessment, stroke, falls and dementia
	Diabetes
	Renal services
	In relation to social services, which are not covered by the majority of the above, core information requirements for adult and elderly social services were published in August 2001. More recently the Department has published a document defining the electronic social care record.

Minimum Data Setting Software

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those local authorities which have been trialling minimum data setting software; and when they are expected to make an evaluation of its effectiveness.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 16 March 2004
	I am not aware of any nationally sponsored trials of minimum data setting software in local authorities.

Motor Neurone Disease

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans for (a) research into and (b) treatment of motor neurone disease.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are investing an additional £40 million in stem cell research in 2004–06, which offers enormous potential in producing new treatments for diseases such as motor neurone disease (MND).
	The Government are also funding the creation of a national stem cell bank. The first of its kind in the world, it will hold all types of stem cells as a resource for researchers.
	The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments of diseases is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC spent £2 million in 2002–03 on research relevant to MND and on basic work on the function of motor neurones.
	We are developing a national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions which will focus on services for people with neurological conditions such as MND.
	The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been asked to develop a clinical guideline on appropriate methods of feeding for patients who have difficulty in swallowing, which is due to be published in 2005.
	We have also commissioned NICE to develop and publish evidence-based guidance on supportive and palliative care, which was published in March 2004.

Neurosurgical Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurosurgical registrars are due to obtain a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in each six month period over the next three years.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of expected CCST completion dates, in six month intervals, for Neurosurgical Registrars for England—as at 31March 2003
		
			 Date Expected Number 
		
		
			 1 April 2004 to 31 September 2004 8 
			 1 October 2004 to 31 March 2005 6 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 September 2005 9 
			 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006 8 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 September 2006 6 
			 1 October 2006 to 31 March 2007 5 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Planning Extract—31 March 2003

NHS Wages

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average wage of NHS laboratory technicians was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003;
	(2)  what the average wage of NHS cleaners was in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

John Hutton: The estimated average earnings of national health service laboratory technicians was £17,900 in 1997, increasing to £23,400 in 2003. These figures are based on the average earnings of medical laboratory scientific officers and medical laboratory assistants. Equivalent information about the pay for cleaners in the NHS cannot be separately identified from the pay of other support staff.
	Sources:
	NHS Staff Earnings Survey 1997 and 2002.

Paediatric Staff

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what attempts were made by Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust to recruit paediatric staff in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 April 2004
	The information requested is not collected centrally. In line with our policy on "Shifting the Balance of Power", responsibility for local services now rest with the local trusts.
	However, I have been informed that considerable efforts have been made by Buckinghamshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust and its predecessors to recruit paediatric staff since 2001. Trusts have been successful in attempts to recruit senior house officers (SHOs) over recent years. However, there has been no consultant recruitment in this period.
	The trust is currently exploring more ways to support the service such as gaining further accredited training posts, and is also introducing a new foundation programme post at the SHO level.

Parkinson's Disease

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans for (a) research into and (b) treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are investing an additional £40 million in stem cell research in 2004–06, which offers enormous potential in producing new treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's.
	The Government are also funding the creation of a national stem cell bank. The first of its kind in the world, it will hold all types of stem cells as a resource for researchers.
	The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. In 2001–02 the MRC provided more than £3 million for research relevant to Parkinson's disease.
	We are developing a national service framework for long-term conditions which will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
	We have commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of Parkinson's disease in primary and secondary care. We expect that the guidelines will be published in spring 2006.

Patient Choice Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he is making available to patients who have been waiting for surgical procedures on the NHS for six months or more on how they can use the Patient Choice Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to ensure that local arrangements are in place for offering choice of hospital to patients waiting longer than six months for surgery. "Guidance on Choice of Hospital" was issued in July 2003. It sets out the key responsibilities for national health service organisations in delivering choice to patients waiting longer than six months. The initial contact with patients should incorporate the following:
	Patients will be informed about how they will be provided with choice and the role of patient care advisors (PCAs).
	PCAs will explain the offer of choice, provide the necessary information to support the patient in making their choice and make the necessary arrangements if the offer is accepted. The PCA will be able to support the patient if any problems occur.
	Safeguards and security measures for confidentiality should be outlined to patients.

Private Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been purchased from the private sector in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: Information relating to the number of operations purchased from the private sector in the last 12 months is not available.
	The number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) that were sub-contracted or directly commissioned from non-national health service providers by the NHS during the financial year 2002–03 was reported as 60,922. This figure includes both operative and non-operative procedures and treatments, for elective and emergency admissions to hospital.
	Details of the activity can be found in Appendix SRC5 of the "Payment by Results: Core Tools 2004" publication, available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/Organisation Policy/FinanceAndPlanning/NHSReferenceCosts/fs/en
	The information is also available on the CD "Payment by Results : Core Tools 2004". The CD contains unit cost information for each NHS provider in 2002–03 for designated procedures, diagnoses and treatments.

Private Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the impact of purchasing operations from the private sector on NHS waiting lists.

John Hutton: The national health service has in recent years purchased surgical procedures from the independent sector under the 'Concordat' arrangement. 60,922 such procedures were purchased last year.
	We recognise that the independent sector could make a greater contribution to reducing waiting times and lists for less complex diagnostic and surgical procedures, such as endoscopies, cataract treatment, hernia repairs and primary hip and knee replacements. This is why we have established the independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) programme.
	Two services are already open: a cataract treatment centre at Daventry and the mobile cataract treatment service run by Netcare. Both schemes are already bringing immediate improvements to patients and cutting waiting times, but have not yet been running long enough to have a significant impact on waiting lists. When fully established, the ISTC programme will treat 250,000 patients a year from NHS waiting lists.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sexually transmitted diseases were diagnosed in Southend-on-Sea in each year since 1997, broken down by disease; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The incidences of sexually transmitted diseases for the Essex Strategic Health Authority area are shown in the table.
	
		Reported diagnoses of select STIs by sex, KC60 statutory reporting, GUM Clinics, Essex Strategic Health Authority, 1997–2002
		
			 Diagnosis/Sex 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Primary and Secondary Syphilis   
			 Male 1 2 5 2 4 1 
			 Female — — 2 1 — — 
			 Total 1 2 7 3 4 1 
			
			 Uncomplicated Gonorrhoea   
			 Male 57 80 94 128 129 150 
			 Female 31 34 49 51 58 70 
			 Total 88 114 143 179 187 220 
			
			 Herpes, first attack   
			 Male 111 115 132 120 143 145 
			 Female 256 253 261 243 306 301 
			 Total 367 368 393 363 449 446 
			
			 Warts, first attack   
			 Male 791 805 891 897 973 997 
			 Female 787 717 788 788 883 911 
			 Total 1,578 1,522 1,679 1,685 1,856 1,908 
			
			 Uncomplicated Chlamydia   
			 Male 265 324 404 397 524 626 
			 Female 449 563 720 763 980 1,114 
			 Total 714 887 1,124 1,160 1,504 1,740 
		
	
	Source:
	KC60 returns—Statistics provided by the policy branch within the Department of Health responsible for Sexual Health and HIV Strategy.

Surgical Instruments (Middlesbrough)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken in response to the incident in Middlesbrough regarding quarantining of surgical instruments.

John Hutton: Guidance on the re-use of surgical instruments after brain biopsy is already published, in "Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents: safe working and the prevention of infection". This guidance, endorsed by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, is available in the following location on the the Department's website: www.dh.gov.uk > Policy and guidance > Health and social care topics > CJD >CJD publications > Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents: Safe working and the prevention of infection
	Additional guidance on the reuse of surgical instruments after brain biopsies is in preparation and will be published shortly.

Teenage Pregnancies

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of teenage conception in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Sir Nicholas Winterton, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rate of teenage pregnancy in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority was in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.
	For this purpose, 'teenagers' are interpreted as the under 18 age group, in line with the target set by The Government Strategy on Teenage Pregnancy. The numbers of conceptions are estimated from registrations of live and still births, and notifications of abortions. They exclude miscarriages before the 24th week of gestation.
	The teenage conception rates for Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority for 1992 to 2001, the latest year for which figures are available, are shown in the table below.
	
		Number, rate
		
			  Number of conceptions Conception rate(50) 
		
		
			 1992 1,916 45.2 
			 1993 1,913 46.2 
			 1994 1,853 44.2 
			 1995 1,934 46.0 
			 1996 2,143 48.3 
			 1997 2,051 49.1 
			 1998 2,100 47.8 
			 1999 2,093 47.1 
			 2000 2,027 44.1 
			 200l(51) 1,938 41.0 
		
	
	(50) The rate shown represents the number of conceptions among all females aged under 18 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 17.
	(51) Rate for 2001 is provisional.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Teenage Sexual Health (Taunton Deane)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) girls and (b) boys under 16 suffered from a sexually transmitted disease in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teenage Sexual Health (Taunton Deane)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls under (a) 16 and (b) 17 were (i) registered as pregnant and (ii) gave birth in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Adrian Flook, dated 26 April 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under (a) 16 and (b) 17 were (i) registered as pregnant and (ii) gave birth in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997. (167552)
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2001.
	The table below gives figures for:
	a) all conceptions, and
	b) conceptions leading to maternities
	for girls aged under 16 and under 17 in Taunton Deane for 1997 to 2001.
	
		
			  Under 16 Under 17 
			 Year Conceptions Maternities(52) Conceptions Maternities(52) 
		
		
			 1997 11 6 30 15 
			 1998 18 7 42 15 
			 1999 16 4 42 18 
			 2000 18 5 40 17 
			 2001(53) 13 7 38 17 
		
	
	(52) Maternities resulting in one or more live birth or stillbirth.
	(53) Provisional figures.

Teenage Sexual Health (Taunton Deane)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) boys and (b) girls under 16 have been issued with contraceptives in Taunton Deane in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Treatment of Children

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department issues on the treatment of children in hospital by staff not specifically trained to treat children;
	(2)  what guidance his Department issues on the treatment of children in hospital in facilities not specifically designated for children.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answers 23 April 2004
	In April 2003, the Department issued the first part of the national service framework for children relating to hospital standards. This describes essential considerations and best practice in caring for children and young people in hospital, including staff training and facilities for children. The standards are available at: http://www. paediatrics.ox.ac.uk/profile   20of   20paeds/documents/hospitalstandard.pdf.

Treatment Sector Contracts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many contracts for independent sector treatment centres have so far been signed in the NHS in England;
	(2)  what his Department's projected timetable is for introducing independent sector treatment centres into the NHS in England;
	(3)  how many independent sector treatment centres are in the process of construction in England.

John Hutton: Four contracts for independent sector treatment centres (IS-TCs) have so far been signed for treatment centres in North Bradford, Trent and South Yorkshire, and Daventry, and for two mobile ophthalmology treatment centres operating throughout England. Of these, the IS-TC at Daventry and the mobile ophthalmology treatment centres are already treating patients. In addition, there is a IS-TC at Redwood, which is a public-private partnership between the national health service and BUPA that opened in October 2002.
	A further 31 IS-TCs that are in development subject to negotiations with preferred bidders and schemes will proceed only if they provide the required level of value for money for NHS commissioners. We have appointed preferred bidders for 30 of these schemes and expect to reach contract close by the end of summer 2004 with the treatment centres becoming fully operational over the following 18 months.
	In addition, the Government announced in the White Paper, "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS (December 2003)", their intention to explore ways to develop extra diagnostic services capacity in order to help reduce waiting times and facilitate choice. This will be sourced from NHS and independent sector providers.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Post Office Closures

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of Post Office closures in Greater London on the collection and payment of pensions.

Chris Pond: We have made no such assessment. Direct Payment still allows customers to access their money weekly at the Post Office if that is what they wish to do.
	The Government are investing record amounts in the Post Office network, some £2 billion over a five-year period.

Jobcentres

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons are employed in jobcentres; and what estimate he has made of the total in 2004–05.

Jane Kennedy: Jobcentre Plus is at the cutting edge of a programme of public service investment and reform that is now starting to deliver efficiencies and improvements by releasing more people to front line employment and benefit services.
	Jobcentre Plus had 62,595 people employed in these roles at the end of March this year. By the same time next year we estimate this figure will be around 61,000.
	In the hon. Members' own constituency, there are over 200 people currently employed providing advice and information on training, jobs and benefits.
	Over the last financial year they contributed to the success of the Essex District in helping 574 people back in to work through the New Deal and their disabled employment advisers helped 41 disabled people into work.

Corporate Manslaughter

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the   likely impact on health and safety at work of the   Government's proposed legislation on corporate manslaughter.

Jane Kennedy: I am well aware of the keen interest that exists in this House on the proposed reforms. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work he has done in promoting this issue.
	The Home Office is leading on the preparation of the draft bill on corporate manslaughter.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment, dealing with both the potential costs and benefits of change, is being prepared. This will be made available when the Government publishes their proposals for legislation.
	The new legislation will have a positive impact on health and safety by bringing to account those that grossly fail to comply with existing health and safety legislation. We have, however, already made clear that the law will not create new standards in the health and safety requirements.
	Following extensive consultation, the Home Office intends to publish the draft bill shortly. This will fulfil the Government's commitment given in the manifesto and in Revitalising Health and Safety.

Pensioner Poverty

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of changes since 1997 on the incomes of the poorest pensioners.

Malcolm Wicks: As a result of measures we have already undertaken, including the introduction of pension credit, on average pensioner households are now £1,350 a year (£26 per week) better off, than they would have been under the 1997 system. The poorest third of pensioner households are on average, £1,750 a year (£33 per week) better off.
	I am sure that the House will agree with me that this represents good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Figures out just last month show pensioner poverty down again—with absolute low income cut by two thirds, lifting 1.8 million pensioners out of acute hardship since 1997.

Workplace Inspections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current level of workplace inspections carried out by inspectors on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive is; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Statistics for the last year (2003–04) are still being compiled and are not yet available. The most recent published figure is for the year 2002–03 when 84,234 preventive inspections were made by HSE Inspectors.
	HSC considers inspection as one of HSE's core activities but it is not the only type of intervention that should be used. They have just published their "New Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain" to 2010 and beyond.
	HSE intend to focus on the most effective way to reduce injuries and ill health.
	The UK is one of the safest places to work and the HSE deserve credit for the part they have played in creating a safer working environment.

Work at Height Directive

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the draft Temporary Work at Height Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: My colleagues and I have received 47 letters regarding the temporary work at height Directive (2001/45/EC) and the proposed Work at Height Regulations since the start of the Health and Safety Commission's consultation period on the draft regulations (4 December 2003).
	Falls from height are the largest cause of fatalities at work, and the second largest cause of major injuries. Because work at height is such an important issue the HSC, when implementing the Temporary Work at Height Directive, decided to consolidate this with other relevant existing legislation into a single set of goal setting regulations.
	Consultation on the draft Regulations took place between 4 December 2003 and 2 April 2004, and has now ended.

Council Tax

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners over 70-years-old he expects to benefit from the payments to mitigate council tax increases.

Malcolm Wicks: We expect around 4.86 million households in Great Britain to benefit from this payment.
	Note:
	Any residence found to have four or more occupants is not included in these figures as it is assumed to be a Residential Care Nursing Home.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, Winter Fuel Payments data Winter 2002–03 100 per cent. sample.

Occupational Pensions

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to compensate workers who lose occupational pension rights prior to the introduction of the pension protection fund.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are sympathetic to all those people who will not receive the pension they worked so hard to build up for their future retirement. We have been meeting some of those affected and listened to suggestions regarding assistance ahead of the Pension Protection Fund's introduction. But there are complex arguments on both sides and we are giving them serious consideration
	We are currently exploring with industry representatives the basis on which we can establish firm estimates of the extent of the problem of defined benefit schemes winding-up underfunded, the numbers affected and the potential scale of losses.

Pension Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to protect the pension rights of workers transferred from one employer to another.

Malcolm Wicks: We are introducing measures in the Pensions Bill to protect the rights of employees with access to an occupational pension where there is a TUPE transfer.
	For the first time transferred employees will be provided with an assured minimum level of pension provision by transferee employers, if they had access to an occupational pension scheme with an employer contribution pre-transfer.

Benefits

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for   Work and Pensions how many people received (a) sickness benefit, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) disability living allowance in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Scotland in the last three years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the tables.
	
		Recipients in England, Wales and Scotland as at 30November each year -- Thousands
		
			  November 2001 November 2002 November 2003 
		
		
			 Incapacity Benefit 
			 England 1,167.3 1,172.1 1,166.2 
			 Scotland 189.9 187.1 185.0 
			 Wales 138.1 137.5 134.1 
			 
			 Disability living allowance 
			 England 1,854.0 1,968.8 2,066.7 
			 Scotland 187.5 199.4 207.9 
			 Wales 256.5 271.0 283.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Incapacity benefit replaced sickness benefit (SB) and invalidity benefit (IVB) from 13 April 1995.
	2. Figures are shown in thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

Child Support Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will inquire from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency why the letters of 26 January, and of 24 March, from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent had not been located; what steps were taken arising from telephone calls to the Chief Executive's office to try and track down the two letters; why the further letter of 8 April from the hon. Member for Walsall North was received in the Chief Executive's office on 19 April; and when a substantive reply will be sent regarding the constituent's position, latest ref: PCU131435.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. David Winnick, dated 26 April 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will enquire from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency why the letter of 26th January, and again of 24th March, from the honourable Member for Walsall North regarding a constituent had not been located; what steps were taken arising from telephone calls to the Chief Executive's office to try and track down the two letters; why the further letter of 8th April from the honourable Member for Walsall North was received in the Chief Executive's office on the 19th; and when a substantive reply will be sent, regarding the constituent's position, latest ref: PCU131435.
	I apologise for the delays in responding to these letters. A substantive response has now been provided to them.

Child Support Agency

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will inquire from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 25 February regarding a constituent, ref PCU129400; and if he will inquire for what reason there has been a delay in the reply being sent.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. David Winnick, dated 26 April 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will enquire from the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency when the honourable Member for Walsall North will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 25th February regarding a constituent, ref: PCU129400; and if he will enquire for what reason there has been a delay in the reply being sent.
	I apologise for the delay in responding to this letter. A substantive response has now been provided to it, which includes an explanation for the delay.

Child Support Agency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since the introduction of the new payment system in the Child Support Agency, how many cases on that system have been successfully concluded in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 26 April 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked; since the introduction of the new payment system in the Child Support Agency, how many cases on that system have been successfully concluded in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Angus constituency.
	Regular reports on the progress of child support reform are made to the House. The most recent of these covered the period to 31 March and was made on 21 April 2004. In the period from the introduction of the new arrangements to 31 March 152,560 cases had progressed to the point of calculation or closure. I am unable to indicate how many of these relate to Scotland or the Angus constituency.

Child Support Agency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency cases in the Angus constituency are being dealt with under (a) the previous and (b) the new assessment system.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 26 April 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked, how many Child Support Agency cases in the Angus constituency are being dealt with under (a) the previous and (b) the new assessment system.
	Around 1,100 cases relating to the Angus constituency are currently being dealt with by the Child Support Agency under the old arrangements. I do not have similar information in relation to cases being dealt with under the new arrangements.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Maria Eagle: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  GICS Other staff (i) of which are Press Officers (ii) of which are Special Advisers (iii) Others 
			 DWP business unit (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 
		
		
			 DWP — 2 — 2 — 
			 Human resources — 14 — — 14 
			 Communications Directorate (54)91 124 13 — 111 
			 The Pension Service 7 7 — — 7 
			 Jobcentre Plus 20 126 — — 126 
			 Child Support Agency 1 66 — — 66 
			 Appeals Service — 4 — — 4 
		
	
	(54) Includes 27 press officers.
	Notes:
	1. Non GICS press officers are regional press officers.
	2. The combined total of national communications staff and regional/district marketing executives, who have a dedicated remit for the provision of customer service information, is 122, of whom 18 are GICS.
	3. Figures include all staff working in the communications teams of DWP, Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service, Child Support Agency, The Appeals Service and Human Resources. Their work includes: marketing (national and regional); media relations; internal communications; communication standards; customer service information; information services, i.e. the Library, Public Enquiry Office and Knowledge Management Team; Intranet; Internet; planning and finance and other support staff.
	4. Also, included in the Jobcentre Plus figures there are 24 staff of whom 2 are GICS engaged solely on internal communications activity nationally across Jobcentre Plus.
	5. Jobcentre Plus Regions and District Offices contain small Business Development Units (of which marketing executives are members). These have a wide-ranging remit, covering such areas as customer service standards, planning, partnership working, correspondence handling etc. as well as communications. Staff work flexibly within these units to maximise efficiency and—apart from dedicated marketing executives—it is not possible to identify the precise amount of additional staff time spent on communication issues.
	6. The information in the table does not take account of staff throughout the
	Department who may carry out communications work as a minor or integral part
	of their job. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Working Groups

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the aims are of the (a) Modern Service Working Group and (b) Activities for Managing Life Working Group; what funding his Department has granted to each in each year since 2001; how many people each has employed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Modern Service Working Group meets on a quarterly basis and is the external reference group for the Disability and Carers Service Change Programme. It provides advice and guidance to officials of the Department on the impact of modernisation initiatives on disabled customers. Membership is drawn from a range of disability organisations that represent customers with physical, mental and sensory impairment.
	The Activities for Managing Life Working Group was established to enable DWP to discuss directly with organisations representing the interests of disabled people, issues surrounding an alternative means of assessing entitlement to disability living allowance. It has now ceased to meet.
	All external members of both MSWG and the AML Working Group were volunteers who gave up their time freely, and no budget was set aside for this purpose. The groups were supported by the Disability and Carers Service Change Programme and neither employed staff directly. Costs were limited to incidental expenses of minimal value.

Employment

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Heywood and Middleton over the last seven years.

Jane Kennedy: The UK has one of the strongest labour markets in the world. We have the highest employment and the lowest unemployment of the major industrialised countries.
	Through a combination of economic stability and radical labour market reforms, more than 1.75 million more people are in work now than in 1997 and unemployment is at its lowest level for nearly 30 years.
	Specific information for Heywood and Middleton is in the table.
	
		
			  Number unemployed for a year or more 
			  Over 25s 18 to 24-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 693 144 
			 2004 148 12 
			 Percentage change -79 -92

Employment

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Manchester, Gorton over the last seven years.

Jane Kennedy: The UK has one of the strongest labour markets in the world. We have the highest employment and the lowest unemployment of the major industrialised countries.
	Through a combination of economic stability and radical labour market reforms, more than 1.75 million more people are in work now than in 1997 and unemployment is at its lowest level for nearly 30 years.
	Specific information for Manchester, Gorton is in the table.
	
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Number of over-25s unemployed   for a year or more 1,490 534 -64 
			 Number of 18 to 24-year-olds   unemployed for a year or more 412 37 -91

Employment

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Stalybridge and Hyde over the last seven years.

Jane Kennedy: The UK has one of the strongest labour markets in the world. We have the highest employment and the lowest unemployment of the major industrialised countries.
	Through a combination of economic stability and radical labour market reforms, more than 1.75 million more people are in work now than in 1997 and unemployment is at its lowest level for nearly 30 years.
	Specific information for Stalybridge and Hyde is in the table.
	
		
			  1997 2004 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Number of over-25s unemployed   for a year or more 633 144 -77 
			 Number of 18 to 24-year-olds   unemployed for a year or more 102 10 -90

"Making the Market Work"

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the trade associations which replied to the making the market work initiative, referred to in the second stage report of the review of employers' liability compulsory insurance.

Jane Kennedy: 'Making the Market Work' is an initiative established and maintained by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The Department understands from the ABI that the following trade associations have made applications for assessment under the initiative:
	British Chambers Connections
	British Coatings Federation
	British Furniture Manufacturers
	British Printing Industry Federation
	British Woodworking Federation
	Federation of Small Businesses
	Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association
	Mastic Asphalt Council
	National Federation of Roofing Contractors
	Screen Printers Association
	Collectively, these bodies have around 190,000 members.

Means-tested Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) number and (b) percentage of pensioners who were eligible non-recipients of (i) minimum income guarantee and (ii) council tax benefit as identified in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2001–02 research, were in receipt of (A)   another means-tested benefit and (B) attendance allowance or disability living allowance.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is tabled as follows.
	
		Percentage of pensioner eligible non-recipients to minimum income guarantee and council tax benefit in receipt of other benefits, 2001–02 -- Percentage
		
			  Proportion of eligible non-recipients in receipt of 
			 Pensioner eligible non- recipients of Other income-related benefits Attendance allowance or disability living allowance 
		
		
			 Minimum income guarantee 41 35 
			 Council tax benefit 6 18 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Results are based on the 2001–02 DWP Family Resources Survey. These may understate the true percentages since the 2001–02 Family Resources Survey understated the numbers in receipt of attendance allowance, disability living allowance and income-related benefits other than council tax benefit.
	2. Estimates are based on an initial assessment of cases modelled as eligible non-recipients from the underlying microdata. Therefore, they do not take into account the possibility that a significant proportion of those appearing to be eligible non-recipients will not be true eligible non-recipients, and a significant proportion of true eligible non-recipients may not be identified. As a result, along with the effects of other data imperfections, the estimates should be interpreted with caution; and only percentage estimates can be provided.

Pensioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners benefit from (a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) free TV licences, broken down by constituency, with constituencies grouped by region.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on minimum income guarantee is not available in the form requested. Since 6 October 2003 pension credit has replaced the minimum income guarantee and the 1.8 million cases receiving minimum income guarantee prior to 6 October were automatically transferred to pension credit. Information on pension credit take-up, including by parliamentary constituency, is available in the Library.
	The information requested about the number of pensioners who benefit from a free TV licence is not available in the format requested. However, people aged 75 and over are entitled to free TV licences and information on the number of households in Great Britain with at least one resident aged 75 or over, broken down by constituency with the constituencies grouped by region has been placed in the Library.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers were employed in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service. Information on costs for 1994 to 2001 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. At the end of March 2004, the Department employed 20 national press officers at an annual cost of £1,146,255. This included three part-time staff. A further 20 press officers worked in the regions across England, Scotland and Wales at an annual cost of £954,500.
	During 2002–03 the Department employed 16 national and 13 regional press officers, at an annual cost of £1,739,935. The total for 2001–02 was 21 national press officers at an annual cost of £816,725.

Retirement Planner

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and   Pensions for what reasons the launch of his Department's proposed web-based retirement planner has been delayed, from the initial target year set out in Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement, page 42.

Malcolm Wicks: The launch of the web-based retirement planner is not delayed. The first elements—the provision of state pension forecasts in real-time—will be introduced in 2004, as set out in the Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement'. As announced in February 2004 in Cm 6111, 'Simplicity, security and choice: Informed choices for working and saving', we intend to launch the web-based retirement planner in spring 2006.

Winter Fuel Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioner households will benefit from the winter fuel allowance; and what amount of funding for winter fuel allowance will be   given to each constituency in the UK, with constituencies grouped by region.

Malcolm Wicks: About 8.2 million pensioner households 1 in Great Britain are expected to receive a winter fuel payment this winter. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for the Northern Ireland scheme. The value of individual payments made in each constituency so far this winter is in the table which has been placed in the Library.
	1  Estimate. Figures for households are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	Note:
	Please note that the amounts for individual payments made refer only to the main payment run, i.e. they do not include the late payment run figures. We estimate that there are approximately 100,000 people in Great Britain paid via late payment runs (0.8 per cent. of all payments). However, since late payment runs are mainly in respect of non-system cases whose claims had not been received by the Qualifying Week, they are heavily skewed towards men aged 60.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample